Thursday, October 08, 2009
Tony Chau
My friend and fellow transplant patient, Tony Chau, lost his battle today. He had a marrow transplant over four years ago and has continually battled gvhd, lung problems and many other complications. Most recently he was found to have a serious fungal infection in his lungs complicated by Influenza A, which I believe to be Swine Flu.
A few days ago, he was getting about 80% oxygen absorption so was put on a respirator. More recently he was only at 50% oxygen. Although it was a tough decision on his wife and family, they decided to turn off the machines today.
Above left photo: myself, Tony, his wife, Danielle, and their three adorable children, Taylor, Owen, and Matthew. Right photo: myself, our doctor, Dr. Nakamura, and Owen. These photos were taken in May 2009 at the City of Hope Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion. Below: Right photo: myself, my mom, Tony and his three children.
A few days ago, he was getting about 80% oxygen absorption so was put on a respirator. More recently he was only at 50% oxygen. Although it was a tough decision on his wife and family, they decided to turn off the machines today.
Above left photo: myself, Tony, his wife, Danielle, and their three adorable children, Taylor, Owen, and Matthew. Right photo: myself, our doctor, Dr. Nakamura, and Owen. These photos were taken in May 2009 at the City of Hope Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion. Below: Right photo: myself, my mom, Tony and his three children.
This is the second friend to pass away this week. I'm broken and heavy-hearted. My grief is being channeled through renewed efforts to help A3M with their benefit and dinner concert, in Cerritos, on October 18th (next weekend). If anyone, would like to attend the benefit dinner and concert, please contact me or go to http://www.asianmarrow.com/ as soon as possible. The tickets are in short supply. Click on Benefit Dinner & Concert. This year Lea Salonga returns to A3M’s stage to perform her 2009 “Inspired” concert. Join us, as we enjoy her all time favorites and some wonderful new selections. Lea created the role of the orphaned “Kim” in Miss Saigon and brought to life the singing of Disney’s Mulan (“Reflection”) and Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin - it’s truly “A Whole New World.”
If you, or anybody you know, would like to donate a silent auction item or buy raffle tickets, I will gladly go anywhere in Los Angeles or Orange County to pick up the item or bring you the tickets. You could also send me anything and I'll get it in time if it's mailed asap. It could be anything from gift cards/certificates or new merchandise from places you frequently visit or business owners that you may know. This is how we can help support A3M's cause of finding donors for so many who are in-need. Contact me if you have any questions at sakakura@ca.rr.com
Thank you for any support you can offer A3M. Thank you for following my blog through these challenging times.
Love you all. n
If you, or anybody you know, would like to donate a silent auction item or buy raffle tickets, I will gladly go anywhere in Los Angeles or Orange County to pick up the item or bring you the tickets. You could also send me anything and I'll get it in time if it's mailed asap. It could be anything from gift cards/certificates or new merchandise from places you frequently visit or business owners that you may know. This is how we can help support A3M's cause of finding donors for so many who are in-need. Contact me if you have any questions at sakakura@ca.rr.com
Thank you for any support you can offer A3M. Thank you for following my blog through these challenging times.
Love you all. n
Comments:
<< Home
Nancy, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend Tony. It breaks my heart to hear these stories.
It has been a tough week and a tough year.
Susan
It has been a tough week and a tough year.
Susan
Thank you Susan. I finally posted the most recent photos, too.
So, we have our work cut out for us. We have to be the voice for so many!!!! Stay well...
love, n
So, we have our work cut out for us. We have to be the voice for so many!!!! Stay well...
love, n
Dear Nancy,
I am the eldest nephew of Tony's.
My uncle Tony was extremely loved in our family and a huge contribution to our emotional well-being. He was friendly, kind, supportive and always there for us when we came for a visit. He is profoundly loved in our family and will be missed dearly and forever; this is a hardship of our own that we will have to try to recover from.
I thank you profusely for all your days of effort to revive him from his health's hardships. Sadly, his body's failure to endure any longer is a frightening reminder to us all that this is among those unfair inevitable things in life. However, what's more important is the love that was shown in the end. I don't know how to show my gratitude for your standing beside him these long terrible years for him.
I am devastated that I won't be able to attend his brief funeral next week. I hope to one day get together with my siblings and cousins (including our own precious Matthew, Owen and Taylor!) to do a memorial ceremony.
Thank you greatly again for the love you showed to him and our family!
deepest regards,
Anthony
I am the eldest nephew of Tony's.
My uncle Tony was extremely loved in our family and a huge contribution to our emotional well-being. He was friendly, kind, supportive and always there for us when we came for a visit. He is profoundly loved in our family and will be missed dearly and forever; this is a hardship of our own that we will have to try to recover from.
I thank you profusely for all your days of effort to revive him from his health's hardships. Sadly, his body's failure to endure any longer is a frightening reminder to us all that this is among those unfair inevitable things in life. However, what's more important is the love that was shown in the end. I don't know how to show my gratitude for your standing beside him these long terrible years for him.
I am devastated that I won't be able to attend his brief funeral next week. I hope to one day get together with my siblings and cousins (including our own precious Matthew, Owen and Taylor!) to do a memorial ceremony.
Thank you greatly again for the love you showed to him and our family!
deepest regards,
Anthony
# posted by 
: 12:57 AM
: 12:57 AM
Dear Nancy,
This is Anthony again. There's been a minor mix-up. For some reason or other, I accidentally thought you were his actual doctor who tried to revive him. I should have read more carefully when you stated that he was your "fellow patient", not your patient.
This, however, changes very little in my gratitude for your love and friendship that you must have had for him as a friend who suffered along side him. We are all in Tony's suffering together.
Anthony
Post a Comment
This is Anthony again. There's been a minor mix-up. For some reason or other, I accidentally thought you were his actual doctor who tried to revive him. I should have read more carefully when you stated that he was your "fellow patient", not your patient.
This, however, changes very little in my gratitude for your love and friendship that you must have had for him as a friend who suffered along side him. We are all in Tony's suffering together.
Anthony
# posted by : 1:32 AM
: 1:32 AM << Home
