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In March 2004, I was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer
and 10 days after my surgery I was quartered for 5 weeks because I
developed MRSA - a staph infection resistant to medicines. Then 2
years later, I was diagnosed with eye cancer. Each eye had a tumor
on the back of the eye. I began radiation therapy and had to stay at the
Hope Lodge for cancer patients in Miami. Now I am legally blind in
my right eye and have impaired vision in my left all due to the side
effects of the radiation treatment. It was not like I was standing
there with nothing to do and said, Hey, God, pick me again! Give
me cancer again. Oh, what fun! I became so depressed, I just
STOP being. I snapped at my children; bit my husband's head of a
few times. Stop going to my Toastmasters Club. Did not
contact friends so I would not have to talk about what was going on.
Funny thing, though, is I constantly THOUGHT ABOUT IT even though I did
not talk about it. Then on March 11, 2008. I fell down at home and
broke my right arm, left wrist, and toes on right foot. I went
through life for 51 years without a broken bone - and than boom - now I
have plates and bolts in my wrist and arm. Unable to do anything
for myself, I went to a nursing home for over 5 weeks. This caused
my depression to grow darker. Come on! Could life for me get any
better? My husband talked me into going to a Kwajalein Reunion
this August in Colorado. Kwajalein is an island in the
Pacific Ocean that is a military range. The reunion was of people
who lived there from the 1960's to present day who a common bond due to
the unusual experience living on a remote island. My family lived
there for 2 tours - 16 years. On Kwajalein, I was the director of
the nursery school and I was excited to see one of my former students,
Dee Dee Erickson. She is now 30 years old, but still has that
beautiful laugh I fell in love with 27 years ago. With just one
statement, Dee Dee, lit the darkness for me - She said, "Miss Koyanagi,
I only remember 2 things about Kwajalein - Santa Claus and YOU."
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Cathy
Koyanagi - Email: cakoyanagi@bellsouth.net |
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