Losing Lisa

Tomorrow, in the early evening, those of us who knew and loved Lisa, will congregate at the Mililani Mortuary to celebrate her life. It is not hard to remember the pretty young lady who walked into the meeting room one support group meeting night. She is gentle on the eyes and a delicious whisper to the mind. What was hard to swallow was that she wasn’t accompanying a parent or a friend that night; she was there for herself. It is often politically correct to want disease to be an equal opportunity predator but we always bite our lips harder when the victim is one so young, so vivacious, and so full of promise.

And one so full of questions:

Does Britt feel pain in his legs?
Are you able to sleep through the night?
Does Britt need to be turned side to side?
Does he have gas after a meal of formula?
How does he form his words?

And on, and on, and on.

In the later years of her illness, I would visit Lisa at home. At every visit, I had come to expect Mom Jane to greet me at the door with, “She has prepared a list of questions for you, you know.” Lisa wanted to know everything about the illness and how it impacted me and Britt and our family. It was a way, perhaps, for her to gauge how she herself - mind and body - was responding, reacting, behaving. And what to expect of the enemy, as if by having answers, she could better understand what she was going through and what was yet to come.

In the end, because she couldn’t or it was too difficult to communicate, she would only look at me, her face reddening, large teardrops falling from the corners of her eyes, still inquiring but knowing that my finite knowledge - ANY earthly knowledge, for that matter - was no longer enough.

Sometime early August, Lisa decided she would no longer ask questions of mere mortals. She was going to her Maker, in whom there will no longer be any doubts, any fears, any half-answered questions. There will only be peace.

Godspeed, Lisa.

What Makes for a Successful Yard Sale

Friday afternoon wasn't without its drama; it merely shows that the best laid plans can be overturned by events. Such was Friday. We had it all thought out: sorting, pricing, and displaying the stuff and directing the afternoon's activities. And my! What STUFF we had! Perhaps, thrice, four times more than was accumulated last year.

But, Britt needed to go to ER because of difficulty breathing, so I handed the reins over to the first of the volunteers that afternoon: Jennie Chun. We left the house at 2 and did not get back til 10 PM. Queen's ER was so busy some gurneys were in the hallways. Britt, who didn't seem as sick as those who came in with traumas, was left to wait for hours. Every so often I would go out to the waiting room to check on folks at home. It was no fun captaining by remote control but I am sure it wasn't fun either doing what needed to be done back in the house. The scent of the mock orange filled the Friday night air but the crew flitting back and forth from the garage to the canopies was oblivious to it. They focused on one goal: get stuff displayed for the yard sale for the very next day!

At 10 when we came home, we were greeted by such a wonderful sight from the street: tents up, light bulbs everywhere shining on worker bees coming in and out of the garage sorting, displaying, etc. Lording it over by the big tent was Robert with a straw in his beer bottle... Ahh, the welcome sight is enough to warm anyone’s cockles.

When the last people (Robert and Armie) left around 1 AM, I took over tying up the loose ends, too energized to sleep. So while Britt slept off the excitement of the afternoon, I was puttering around, moving boxes to the curb, displaying 10 million shoes, rearranging this and that... and for the first time since Vi's Adventure Trek and Run last year, I saw sunrise (those who know me know I am not a morning person.)... It was gorgeous and I looked forward a great day at the yard sale!

Jason came by at 7 with his realtor's signs to be set up. (Other signs have already been set up Thursday night.) Then came Nancy and Tammie who started getting busy right away. One after another, the Saturday crew (which was slightly different from Friday's!) came in their grubbies, ready to tackle the day. A steady stream of folks - many who saw Tanya and Kathy's dog and pony show on Channel 4, the Craig's list ads posted by Tanya, and Kathy O's ad in Midweek - was willing to part with their bills for wonderful buys!

We shared potluck dishes throughout the day: Penny's delish kahlua pork and cabbage, Nancy's broke da mout fried chicken, my sister's pancit, Jessie's fantastic tofu concoction. Friday’s dimsum brought by some amazing elf made a great repeat performance on this day. And the pumpkin pie... These sustained us through the heat and pace of the day...

All of our pickled mangoes went!
All of Nancy's mango chutney went!

Ken's "Hawaii ALS" banner beckoned and people came as if in a trance. In the post-lunch lull, my halo-halo lifted crew's spirits and sleepy eyelids. At 2 pm, we were ready to pack up but gave in to an eleventh hour surge from Zippy's morning crew. There was still a bunch of good stuff on the driveway. You couldn’t call them pickings because there was soooo much and they were in fantastic shape ! After the last buyer left, Vi, Daniel and Natalie surprised us with a welcome bucket of KFC chicken to round off the day. Meanwhile Chase started helping mom Tanya put away stuff into the boxes.

All in all, Brad, Paul Mahi and I drove 5 truckloads to Goodwill and Salvation Army in the end, along with the Big Tent's and Ken's City Mill canopy's bags inadvertently stuffed into the load by a too efficient crew!

Around 7 PM, when the last of the trucks came back, we sat under the Big Tent and ate leftovers for dinner. We were tired, dirty, sweaty but happy campers. I asked the fellas under the tent whether we should be doing this again next year: "you bet we will" - was the enthusiastic response. But yes, once a year is enough! As with every experience, we learned there are ways we can do better next time: in sales, in organizing and wrapping up the day.

So what makes for a successful yard sale? First of all, great weather, and no threatening Felicias either to add to the angst. It was such a blessing that Tropical Storm Felicia wimped out early in the week, or else all our plans would have had to be shelved. Of course, there are the dedicated in our group who were our arms and legs, making everything possible, from the time the date was set to the time the last tent was folded and put away. We also have our cheering squad and inspirations in their homes - they are whom we work for. Most of all, our o'hana and members of the community who just pitched in because they believed in our cause. Penny Chun, our resident crafter, made lovely "thank you" note cards which we will send out, with gratitude in our hearts.

All in all, we made...drumroll, please... $1400 and change, including $120 in cash donations. Add that to our balance and we should have about $2000 in the bank, enough to take us through the Christmas holiday planning.

So till next summer again, dear friends, keep recycling, keep those treasures coming and hope to see you at the 4th Hawaii ALS yard sale !

3rd Annual Hawaii ALS Yard Sale on August 15

Yes! We are on our third! Please be there!

WHAT: Genormous Yard Sale

WHERE: 244 Akiohala Street, Kailua (off of Keolu Dr. in Enchanted Lake area)

WHEN: This Saturday, 8 am to 2 pm. No early birds, please!

Lots of stuff, gently collected and sorted. Donated items came from families living with ALS and our ohana.

Proceeds go to our piggy bank to help with our needs and activities such as our Christmas party and cookies for our home-bound, and flowers for the hospitalized.

Neat, huh? So, shall we see you there?

On Lisa's Decision to be Taken off the Vent: Blackberry exchanges between two of her friends

at 8 pm last Wednesday night, many of Lisa's friends in the Ohana heeded her family's call to join them in spirit and thought while they pray for assistance as Lisa begins her journey back to her Maker. Lisa has decided to be taken off the vent on August 8. At 3 pm, Jane and Richard Yamaguchi will transport their beloved daughter, Lisa - our friend and inspiration - to Pali Momi Medical Center where her wishes will be executed.

From: Tracy Sherman
To: Divina Robillard

I can only wonder what Lisa must be thinking about the next\last few days. Very few people actually know the exact day they are leaving this life.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T


ReplyTo: Tracy Sherman
Sent: Aug 5, 2009 8:13 PM
Subject: Re: Gentle Reminder: Lisa

I know. I suppose there is peace in certainty. And if there is faith in God and in the hereafter, anticipation.

There is probably a feeling of control finally. Over the disease, I mean.

Ahh, life! If ever I go out the same way, I hope I have the strength to make the same decision. Or is it weakness from exhaustion that prods one to make it? I hope the former. But I will understand if the latter.

At least the good thing is that it makes us think, reflect, grow from just knowing her...

Thanks for these moments of reflection, my friend. I hope you and mom are doing well. Xoxo

Sent via BlackBerry by T-mobile

Thinking of Lisa

Please think of Lisa Yamaguchi tonight. She has decided to be taken off the ventilator this Saturday. My dad always had a soft spot in his heart for Lisa. We are thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.

The following was taken from a website created by many of Lisa's friends.

Written by The Manana Gang
Wednesday, 16 August 2006

Our Friend Lisa...

Is it possible to use words to illustrate the life of a great friend? Actions speak louder than words and when one thinks about our friend, Lisa Yamaguchi, the word service comes to mind. When the great American Thinker, Philosopher, and Writer of the early 1900’s Elbert Hubbard said, “One great, strong, unselfish soul in every community could actually redeem the world.” He was speaking of our friend.

Lisa graced the halls of Manana Elementary School in Pearl City during our fourth grade year, recently transferring from Alvah Scott Elementary in Aiea. The transition to her new school was smooth as she befriended six new classmates (Valerie Fujitani, Lisa Tamura, Lori Yamamoto, Kellie Inouye, Tracy Imagawa, and Julie Camarillo). Little did we all know that our friendship would span three decades, a multitude of boyfriends, eight marriages, a herd of kids, a gamut of career changes, the roller skating era, and a variety of interesting hair choices. Through it all, “the Manana Gang” has managed to rise above the diversity and remain close.

Graduating from Pearl City High School in 1985, Lisa went on to the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Psychology which led her to a myriad of job opportunities in which her “…strong, unselfish soul…” was called into action.

Lisa worked at a Spouse Abuse Shelter, helping families rebuild their lives. She then moved on to becoming a Headstart Pre-school teacher for 10 years where educating our youngest population became her passion. Recently resigning from a one-year post as a YMCA outreach counselor at Waialua High School, Lisa listened with open ears, hands, and heart as teens turned to her for gentle, but loud affirmation that there is good in the world and one must always strive for that.

Our friend, Lisa Yamaguchi, was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease in March 2006. Physically, our friend is being imprisoned by this disease, but her mind and heart are still as sharp and warm as ever. Lisa has dedicated her pre-ALS life to helping “redeem” our world with her service to others. We hope that Lisa’s life of service will not have been done in vain as we all rally to help her live with the new challenges of her current conditions while we continue the unselfish path she has set before us.

Love always,
Julie, Tracy, Lisa, Kellie, Lori, and Valerie

Vi is "Still Running The Good Race" (A MidWeek Cover Story)

Did you know that Vi has completed 15 marathons, 5 Ultra Marathons, and 3 Ironman Triathalons?!

Check out the article in today's Midweek!

http://www.midweek.com/content/story/midweek_coverstory/vi_jones_medusky/