From Rex: "Doing Better, My Mojo is on the Increase"

[Steven Nishida]

(From Steve)

Greetings Friends of Rex and the Tanimotos,

First, I'd like to thank you all for your messages of encouragement and support. With the loss of my best friend, Christian, I have been less responsive than usual and not quite on my game, but an incredible support network has helped me to stay composed and productive. Thank you all for being here as a constant reminder of just how much we all have to be thankful for. 

I finally got in touch with Kayo and Rex to get an update on his condition. Below is an excerpt of the email I received from Rex a few days ago...

(From Rex)

 "I'm very sorry I haven't kept in touch with you. My condition wasn't good. Then it turned better with ups and downs. Recently, my headaches decreased, and I could sit up for longer periods of time. Yesterday, I didn't take a nap as usual. Something I'm accustomed to doing: three hours in the morning and three in the afternoon, in addition to my ten-hour sleep time. I've been frustrated not being able to continue my daily routines as I used to, much less working steadily on projects. However, I've since learned to accept things as they come and accomplish things in a piece-meal fashion.

The chemo side effects are minor with mostly back muscle aches and short bouts with nausea. My doctor and the chief radiologist discovered that the primary tumor in my lung increased in size a bit, pressing against the artery going to brain, thereby reducing the flow of oxygen. That was the probably the reason I was experiencing headaches. I may have radiation done next month to reduce the tumor size.

As Kayo mentioned to you on the phone (thanks for calling. Sorry I wasn't able to talk to you that time.), I'm now receiving alternative cancer treatments once a week at a hospital in Nara. This treatment considers heat as a means to shrink tumors. I imagined there would be discomfort while being exposed to the heat, but with the high tech equipment  used, I felt relaxed. My hands are no longer feel icy cold and as I mentioned earlier, I didn't take a nap yesterday. Don't know for sure if these improvements was the result of the heat treatment. Whatever the cause is, I hope it continues and further improves my condition."

As you can see, Rex has been focused on rest and recovery. He's not quite up for visitors at the moment, but he is working through the current slew of minor complications with strength and grace. You can also see that his selfless tendencies are alive and well:-) The alternative treatment protocol that Rex referred to is called hyperthermia. Here is a link to a video explanation of the treatment: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFXvMeE2DVQ

I was very happy to hear that Rex has been maintaining his weight these past few months, and that he has overcome his dizziness. 

Keep givin' 'em hell, Rex!

Much love and MOJO,

Steven (NIshida)

[Catriona Chalmers]

Thanks for the update Steve, good to hear Rex is doing okay and holding his own.
Let's hope the New Year brings even more positive results and that
Rex's health is fully restored
and that we will all be getting together with Rex and Kayo and giving thanks.
Trina

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--
Catriona Takeuchi
One World English


http://missbehaving.wordpress.com/


World peace is the residual effect of a whole lot of people who have
attained personal peace...

... not the other way around.

[Muriel Fujii]

Steven,

Thank you for the update. I'm really sorry to hear about your friend. As soon as things wind down here for the semester (in about a week or so), I'll be writing Rex. 

Wishing you all a  Mele Kalikimaka, Hau'oli Makahiki Hou. 

Muriel