Blood Transfusion #1

Spent 7 hours at the hospital today. Took Mom in for her first outpatient transfusion. Although she has refused chemotherapy, she has agreed to occasional transfusions to keep up her energy levels and prevent bruising. Today was the first of those. She slept during most of the procedure.

Some of the things Mom missed out on in Kohala included camping out in the house - it is basically a relatively clean construction site with amenities, lunch with Uncle Kazu at Fig's Mix Plate, the Obon service and spending time with Uncle Kazu at Obon, and dinner and dessert at the house with Lem and Uncle Kazu. Here's Uncle Kazu and Aunty Daisy at Obon. David and I took Uncle Kazu back to the assisted living home just before the post-bon odori meal since the church is not accessible and he could not go up the stairs.

Aunty Daisy, Bill (Uncle Kazu's niece Laurel's husband), & Uncle Kazu

Some of the improvements I am making at the house are widening all the doorways so that they are wheelchair accessible. Once we got him in the front door, Uncle Kazu was able to wheel himself around, except for the bathroom which is still in need of work. Here's the ramp to the front door. It ended up being almost level due to the slope from the driveway to the front door. I still have to trim some of the shrubs back, add a section of rain gutter over the ramp, and add railings along the wooden part. I also have to figure out exactly where to park the car for the easiest access.

One of the reasons so many people were at the house is for Uncle Orv's hatsubon (first Obon after death). Besides the hatsubon in Kohala, there was also an interment ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known locally as Punchbowl. Here are the Marines folding the flag. There was also a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. We discovered that the Marines will still do a 21-gun salute if requested but the Air Force does not due to budget cuts.


Today is the 27th anniversary of the death of my grandmother whom I am named after. In the Buddhist tradition certain nenki hoyo (yearly services) are significant and are observed by the family; this is apparently not one of the significant years.

Happy Birthday to Dr. T and Brenda!