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カードや、ギフト、または、チェック（チェックの宛名はEric Lechasseurでお願いします）を送っていただく時は、下記の住所に送り下さい。

2610A 23^rd St.

Santa Monica, CA 90405

ひとりひとりの方には、返信は出来ませんが、
みなさんが送って下さる、メッセージ、E-メール、カードや手紙はちゃんと読む事をお約束します。

Love, Sanae 💖

６回のキモセラピーを終えて

２０１７年５月にキモセラピーを受ける前にがん専門ドクターのミィード先生（ドクターミィードは７月７日に日本語のブログ”ガンが戻って来た！”を書いた一番初めのがん専門ドクターではありません）から「あなたは、珍しい癌, びまん性大細胞型Ｂ細胞性非ホジキンリンパ腫肝臓で末期のステージ４になっている事が、PET/CT( 機能画像と形態画像の融合による)検査でわかりました。肝臓が９０％ガンに侵されていて、余命は１ヶ月もないので、今、すぐ入院してキモセラピーを始める必要があります。このガンは進行がとても早いので、積極的なキモセラピーである、５日間のエポック（EPOCH ）併用療法をリツキシマブ(リツキサン)と併用して行う事を勧めます。これは毎日２４時間の５日間のキモセラピーで、大変ですが、ゆっくり５日間かけて行われるので、１日に１回するキモセラピーより体に抵抗が少なく強いキモ薬が体に注入されます。期間は、３週間に１回を６回、合計６ヶ月行います。キモセラピーを始めるとあなたは弱って副作用の痛みその他の症状は出てきます。」と言われました。

写真：サンタモニカのUCLA の病院でエリックと一緒に夕食を食べている私。

今まで、マクロビオティック・カウンセラーとしてたくさんのクライエントさんにカウンセリングをして来ました。クライエントさんの中にはキモセラピーをしていてその副作用で苦しい思いをしていると聞きました。副作用とガンの痛みで自分では料理が出来ない人たちもいました。また、副作用で食事が出来ない人たちもいました。想像は出来ましたが、本当にどれだけ大変だということは現実的にはわかっていませんでした。

キモセラピーがどれだけ実際に肉体と精神を侵し、痛み、不快感、気弱な気持ちと不安感を与える事になるかは想像以上のものでした。今までの人生でこの辛さと比べられるものはヘロイン中毒になった時だけ体験した言葉では表現しかねる、全身の痛みと不快感、高熱、疲労感、何もなくてもイライラする怒りの気持ち、絶望感など。

この経験を通して、初めて今までカウンセリングに来ていた、クライエントさんたちがどんなに辛い思いと経験をしていたかやっとわかりました。ひとりひとりの経験はまったく同じではないので全てはわからないと思いますが、カウンセリング時に私がサポート出来なかった部分がわかりました。また、元気になって、マクロビオティック・カウンセラーの仕事に戻ったら、以前よりキモセラピーをしたクライエントさんの気持ちがわかったカウンセリングが出来ると信じます。

私のキモセラピー経験に話を戻しますが、初めてキモセラピーを受けた時の経験は、ブログ “初めてのキモセラピー（癌化学治療）” に書いてありので、もし良かったら是非読んで下さい。私の初めてキモセラピーはサンタモニカのUCLA病院で受けました。体力がとても落ちて、車椅子で病院に行ったくらい弱っていましたが、キモセラピーを受ける前に体力を回復する為の分泌液などを点滴で受けて少し元気になり、歩けるようになりました。キモセラピーを受けた事がないので、好奇心の強い私は、どうなるか興味深々反面、知らない事をする恐怖でいっぱいでした。副作用がどんなに苦しいか想像出来ていませんでした。特に白血球をあげる薬ニューラスタの副作用は体中の骨が痛みは、１週間も動く事も出来ないほどの耐えられない苦しみでした。

２回目のキモセラピーは、病院に入院しないで毎日５日間通院して行われました。好奇心の強い私は、また、新しく受ける内容に頭も気持ちも集中していましたが、副作用はとても酷く、気持ちを落ち着かせる為に、眠れない時に、ブログ”キモセラピーとニューラスタの副作用”を書きました。まだまだ、キモセラピーの経験が少ない患者の私はなんとか頑張っていられました。

写真：キモセラピーのバッグ（黒）はこんな風につけて歩くことも出来る。

写真：キモセラピーバッグの中身はこんな風になっています。

３回目のキモセラピーが始まった頃、疲れと体力が無くなってしまうのを痛切に感じた。夜は殆ど眠れないで、トイレに６〜７回も行く為に起きるのはとっても辛かった。いらだつ回数が多くなって無力なやりきれない気持ちになり、出来る事は横になって痛みを感じながら自分の呼吸と心臓の鼓動の音に集中した。

１９９３年に卵巣癌になった時、２００１年に交通事故で臨死体験をした時、痛みの苦しみを体験したが、今回の肝臓のリンパ腫でまた痛みの苦しみを新たに学ぶ事になった。

キモセラピーで赤血球が下がり過ぎてしまった私の体は弱り切ってしまい動く事も出気なくなって、輸血をする事になった。
４回目のキモセラピーでは、副作用で肺炎になり、また輸血, もうキモセラピーを止めたいという気持ちが毎日駆け巡ってどうしたらいいかわからなくなったのですが、１週間キモセラピーをする休みをもらって、少し元気になったので、５回目のキモセラピーに向かいました。５回目のキモセラピーは耐えられないくらいの副作用と赤血球と血小板の両方が下がってしまい、また輸血をした。その後は気持ちが弱ってしまい、よく泣いた。

キモセラピーが肉体だけでなく、精神的、気持ちにも影響がすごくあるとわかって、その事をブログ”キモセラピーの精神的な副作用をどのように対処する” に書きました。

副作用を和らげる為におうちで毎日いろんな事をやっています。マクロビオティックヒーリング食はもちろん、レメディー・ドリンク（小豆茶、青菜ドリンク、ゴボウ茶、レンコン茶など）そのれだけではなく、ボディー、ファイス、頭のスクラブ、手と足湯、毎週、友人のサリーからレイキを受けて（ジョオジオ、岡田さんもレイキをして下さいました）、カッピン(吸玉法)とジェントルマッサージはブロッカから、そして時間があれば、楽健法マッサージはみちよさんから、ヒーリングマッサージは、サールから、指圧はアシから、鍼灸は金子先生から、温灸はエミリーから、催眠法セラピーはジェシカから。自分でも腎臓と肝臓のところにビワの葉の温灸を毎日してとても楽になって、トイレに行く数が減りました。首、手、指、足指を毎日動かして、導引を出来る時に少しでもして、寝付く前ににエリックがアシの脹脛と腰のマッサージをしてくれます。他はヴィッパサナ瞑想を短くても、横になったまま毎日します。

写真：小豆茶

６回目のキモセラピーがやって来て、これが最後のキモセラピーになるかもと思ったら、やっと暗くて長いトンネルの先に明かりが見えた。終わってから、白血球、赤血球、血小板の３つとも下がり過ぎていて、抵抗力が上がって来るのに時間が今までよりかかり、殆ど動けない状態になった。自分に忍耐が回復する鍵だからと言い聞かせ毎日を過ごした。

写真：６回目のキモセラピーになってやっと暗闇のトンネルから先の光が見えて来て、キモセラピーを受けている間もリッラクスして編み物が出来るようになった。

白血球は、ニューラスタがやっと効いてきて、上がってきて、血小板も少し上がって来た。でも赤血球は下がり過ぎていて、中々上がって来ないので、また輸血に行くんだと覚悟していたら、ドクター・ミィードがキモセラピーが６回で終わったので少なくとも６週間は治療のお休みがあるので、自分の治癒力で赤血球が上がって切るのを待ちましょうと言ってくれた。ドクター・ミィードの判断力に感謝してます。

ドクター・ミィードは、私が６回のキモセラピーを無事問題なく終わった事を喜んでいて、キモセラピーはどうだったか聞いてきたので、「すごく辛かった。」と答えたら、ビックリしたかのように目を大きくして「何も大きな問題もなく緊急病院にも行く必要がなく終わったのに？」と言われた。

私は、「どんな風になるか想像出来なかったのと、以前はとてもアクティブな生活をしていたので、痛みと副作用で何も出来ないで、ただ横になって無気力でいないといけない事が私にとっては苦しみだった。」言いました。

すると、ドクター・ミィードは「あなたはとても健康でヘルシーな生き方をしていたから、気持ちはよくわかるわ。でも、今回のガンである肝臓のリンパ種は、とても悪質だったのよ。初めあなたがここに来た日、歩く事も出来なかった事を覚えてる？私は余命１ヶ月もないと言った事も？でも、その時に比べたらとても良くなって自分で歩く事も出来るようになったし、キモセラピー治療中、病院に再入院する必要もなく、食事もだいたい食べられて、吐き気もなく６回のキモセラピーを無事終わらせられる事が出来て、おめでとう！と言います。」と嬉しそうに言って下さった。

そして、「体力と抵抗力は少しづつ戻って来るけど、無理をしないで、休息を十分に取るように。ガーデンニング、愛犬たちと散歩したり、クッキングやヨガクラスをまた始めたいと思うけど、時間をかけて自分を癒す事が大切です。PET/CT( 機能画像と形態画像の融合による)検査を１１月の初めには受けて、キモセラピーの治療がどのくらい効果を出しているか調べないといけません。私の予想ではきっと良い効果が出ていると思いますが、次はC型肝炎の治療も始める必要があるので、ゆっくり自宅で休養をして毎日をエンジョイしてください。でも無理はダメですよ。」と付け加えた。

ドクター・ミィードに言われた事を聞いてとても嬉しかった。「ありがとうございます！先生は私が回復するのを助けてくれてので、感謝してます。」

写真：ドクターミィードと一緒に

一番初め、違うガン専門ドクターに診察を受けていたが、このドクターは私の事が何もわからないと感じた。日本語のブログ”ガンが戻って来た！”にこのドクターの事は書いた。

コミュニケーションがうまく出来ないだけでなく、PET/CT( 機能画像と形態画像の融合による)検査で９０％も肝臓がガンで侵されているのにその結果を連絡しないで、バケーションに行こうとしていたドクターだ。私が連絡してPET/CT( 機能画像と形態画像の融合による)検査の結果が来ていないと言うと、私が連絡するべきだとドクターのアシスタントに言われて結果はアポを取って会いに来ないと渡せないとも言われた。でもドクターは３週間のバケーションに出かけて６月まで会えないとも言われた。

諦めないで、コミュニケーションが出来る、ドクターミィードを見つけて本当に良かったと思う。

少しづつ元気になって来て今はキモセラピーも６回終わったので、私の頭は「あれもしたい、これもしたい、彼処に行きた〜い。」など毎日言ってるが、心と体は「まだまだ！だよ。」って言ってくれてる。心と体の声を聞く事を学んでいる私は、まだまだ！だよ。

いつもサポートして下さっているみなさん、ありがとうございます！

PET/CT( 機能画像と形態画像の融合による)検査の後、結果をまた書きますね。

愛を込めて、

Sanae 💖

みなさんの祈りとサポートに心から感謝します。

その他、私とエリックの本を購入してサポートしていただくこともできます。

宜しく、お願いします。

下記が私たちの４冊の本です：

カードや、ギフト、または、チェック（チェックの宛名はEric Lechasseurでお願いします）を送っていただく時は、下記の住所に送り下さい。

2610A 23^rd St.

Santa Monica, CA 90405

ひとりひとりの方には、返信は出来ませんが、
みなさんが送って下さる、メッセージ、E-メール、カードや手紙はちゃんと読む事をお約束します。

Love, Sanae 💖

No Matter What I Am Thankful and Live One Day At A Time!

After six rounds of chemotherapy, life started to move very fast.
I got stressed not only from the chemotherapy side effects, but from things to take care of: my computer crashed so I was not able to write a blog and newsletter for October; one of my dog family got sick and had to have surgery (she is recovering very quickly), and there have been more stressful incidents which I am not going to write about here.
Because of all the stress, I changed my PET scan date so I could feel all right while taking it. However, this was my third PET scan so I had gotten used to the procedure and everything went smoothly.

My oncologist, Dr. Mead, said it would be about three days to get PET scan results and she would contact me about them.
After five days, I still hadn’t heard from her so I was anxious and sent her an email.
She replied very quickly and said she had called me twice, but hadn’t wanted to leave her message on voicemail. Uh oh. She explained that there was an area on the PET scan she worried might be residual lymphoma. She wants me to do a biopsy and she asked me to come to see her next day.

My body immediately felt tight and my mind got dark. I was really hoping that I would receive “No more cancer” news, but the reality was not so simple.
It was a long 24 hours.

Eric and I went to see Dr. Mead.
She was not smiling like the previous times I’d seen her; I felt that she looked sad when she came in. She showed me PET scan test results and explained them to us carefully:

Here are three different PET scan results I’ve had in 2017:

April 27: Tumor size: 138mm x 82mm. SUV max 35.6
July 5: Tumor size: 57mm x 35mm. SUV max 2.4
November 8: Tumor size: 35mm x 32mm. SUV max 4.0

You can see that the tumor has only shrunk, and apparently a small amount of necrotic (dead) material left after chemo is not unusual, so the tumor size didn’t bother Dr. Mead. It was the SUV numbers that gave her concern.

So what is SUV?
It means Standardized Uptake Value, and it’s a measure of the amount of glucose that the affected area is taking up during the scan. The more glucose being absorbed, the more active the area is, and because cancer is very hungry for glucose, that can be a sign of cancer. The higher the SUV, the more aggressive cancer.

Dr. Mead explained that the normal limit of SUV is 3, so when I took PET Scan in July it was already within a normal range and Dr. Mead was so pleased with that result. However, in November, the SUV went up to outside the normal range, to 4.

Now 4 isn’t a very high number, and it could mean two things: either the Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Primary non-Hodgkin in my liver is very aggressive and it hasn’t been completely eradicated (yet), or it’s simply inflammation. Inflammation can produce higher than normal SUV numbers. In order to find out and make sure I must get another biopsy. Ugh.

I mentioned my first biopsy in my June 8^th blog.

I had to be in a bed because of pain for one week and the pain lasted for more than three weeks (a liver biopsy has to go through ribcage so the side effect is a pain).

I am scared to take the biopsy so I told Dr. Mead about how I feel.
She said, “You were already very sick and weak the last time when you had the biopsy so hopefully this time you won’t have the same pain experience.”
She might be right because I am feeling better now than the last time I had the biopsy so I am encouraging myself to take the biopsy.

Dr. Mead explained also what would happen after biopsy:

If it is only inflammation, then I just do another PET scan six weeks later.
But if it is a relapse of the lymphoma, then I have to do a different chemotherapy.
It will be very strong so it has be done only in the hospital and I would also have to do a stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant).
It is scary to hear about a chemotherapy that’s even stronger than the one I just had!

People have told me how strong I am, how positive I am, and how I am inspiring them, but inside, I feel so scared.
I do not feel strong and positive.
I am not inspiring myself.

When I didn’t get a good PET scan result, I immediately blamed myself: “What did I do wrong?
Is it that oily Chinese food I ate when I went to Japanese friends gathering?

Photo: Completing six rounds of chemotherapy gathering for Japanese friends.

Or is it that vegan donut I ate?
Or vegan chocolate cookie I ate at Cafe Gratitude when I had English speaking friends gathering?”

Photo: Completing six rounds of chemotherapy gathering for English speaking friends.

Eric was in shock when we came home from Dr. Mead office.
He sat down and looked far away. I saw that he was not able to do anything for a while.
I did not want to see him suffer, so I said: “I am sorry that I am not healthy, or young (I am 12 years older than him) and am a bitchy wife.” That word caught his attention and he looked at me said “bitchy?” and smiled.

I talked to my good friend, Jessica Porter, who has been helping me with her friendship and hypnotherapy.
She, of course reminded me “one day at a time” and not to blame myself.
“We have all seen what you’ve gone through and no one else is blaming you”, she said.

My maple tree in North Fork is showing beautiful autumn color around Thanksgiving time- read how I save this maple tree – https://sanaesuzuki.com/2016/12/02/miracle-maple-tree-recover/

I realized Thanksgiving is coming soon.
It would be perfect if I had good news of my recovery here for Thanksgiving.
So it’s not a perfect Thanksgiving, but no matter what, I have one day at a time to live right now and I am thankful for my life with Eric and our animal family.

I received a list of appreciation from a new friend, Michael Sieverts, who teaches Qigong for the Cancer Support Community. He said if your appreciation list seems too small, change what you can so that you can appreciate more. We need to spend at least as much time on cultivating our soul’s expansion as we do on what causes us suffering.
I really like what he sent me.

This Thanksgiving I appreciate whatever goodness life is giving me: friendship (that includes you); good health; plant-based macrobiotic foods; interesting career; my love for animals; interesting hobbies (organic garden, photography, writing, knitting, bead jewelry, calligraphy etc. ); good movies/ books/shows/theater, and whatever gives me joy (this morning joy is writing this and enjoying morning sun with my cat, Tin Tin. I am wearing my favorite flannel PJ and organic thick winter socks).

Photo: Morning light with my beloved cat, Tin Tin.

I could go on and on with my appreciation list . . . I hope your list is long and gives you joy.

Thank you so much!

Love, Sanae💖

Thank you for your prayers and continuous support.

We are grateful and invite you to help us at this time by YouCaring Fundraising to Support Sanae’s Recovery from Cancer or purchasing our books directly from us to cover my medical expenses.

Here are our books:

My post mailing address for sending your card, gift or check:

2610A 23^rd St.

Santa Monica, CA 90405

I will not be able to personally reply to each person, but I promise I will read everyone’s messages, emails, and cards.

Love, Sanae 💖

After the Sixth Round of Chemotherapy

Before I started chemotherapy in May 2017, my oncologist, Dr. Monica Mead (she is my second oncologist so she is not the oncologist I wrote for my blog “Cancer is Back!” on May 21, 2017), said to me: “You have cancer of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Primary non-Hodgkin of Liver. It is stage IV and your PET scan showed that 90 percent of your liver has been taken over by cancer. You have weeks to live, so we must act right away. I recommend EPOCH + Rituximab chemotherapy—five days of chemotherapy for 24 hours a day, every three weeks. There will be six rounds of the treatments. As you receive each chemotherapy treatment, your body will become weaker, and the side effects might give you intense pain and symptoms.”

Eating dinner with Eric at UCLA hospital in Santa Monica in May 2017.

I have had many clients come to me for macrobiotic nutrition counseling.
Some of them have had chemotherapy treatments, and I heard the side effects were very hard.
Cooking for themselves was sometimes impossible, and they were having challenges eating most of the foods that help them.
I could only imagine, but realistically, I did not know till I had my own chemotherapy.

I had no idea how much damaging impact my body and mind would receive—the suffering of pain, discomfort, and weakness—from the chemotherapy treatments. I had nothing to compare it to in my life, except heroin addiction withdrawal: achenes, pain, irritation, discomfort, fever, weakness, hopelessness, and more.

After this experience, I now know what my clients went through. I am sure everyone is different, so I do not know everything, but I can see where I was not able to help them now.
When I go back to macrobiotic nutritional counseling, I believe I can help a little better than before after this experience.

Back to my own experience of chemotherapy:

I wrote about my first chemotherapy experience “My First Chemotherapy“ on my blog on June 12, 2017.
I was at UCLA hospital in Santa Monica. I started to feel better while I was there and in the beginning, I was curious and scared to see a new experience of chemotherapy. I had no idea the side effects were so painful experiences.
Especially the Neulasta shot caused really bad side effects of bone pain, which lasted more than a week.

The second chemotherapy was another new experience—doing outpatient and getting chemotherapy at home.
So again, being a curious person, I was focusing on new things. Of course, the side effects were very bad—which I wrote about “Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Neulasta“ on my blog on June 14, 2017.
But I was still an inexperienced chemotherapy patient, so I was able to hang in there.

Wearing Chemo bag (black).

Inside the chemo bag – orange color Epoch chemo drugs mix.

By the time the third chemotherapy came, I was getting tired and wary of more.
I was experiencing sleepless nights and going to the bathroom six to seven times during the night.
Experiencing irritation and the inability to do anything but breathe and feel my heart beats as I lie down and feel pain.
I was learning the suffering of pain all over again (as when I had ovarian cancer in 1993 and a life-threatening car crash in 2001).
I was too weak and fatigued and felt too much pain, and red blood cells were too low so I had to have the first blood transfusion.

The fourth chemotherapy’s side effect triggerted me to have pneumonia and another blood transfusion. I really wanted to stop taking chemotherapy, but I got one week off from the chemotherapy and I felt a little better. The fifth chemotherapy treatment was unbearable and red blood cells and platelets were too low so I had to get another blood transfusion.
I got so depressed and almost lost hope and belief.
I wrote about “Emotional Side Effects of Chemotherapy and How to Help Them” on my blog July 10, 2017.

In order for me to overcome the side effects, I have been taking care of myself actively at home, eating macrobiotic foods, taking remedy drinks (Azuki tea, Green Leafy drink, Burdock tea, Lotus tea etc.) and doing external remedies (body, facial, and head scrub, foot and hands bath, etc.). I have been receiving Reiki every week from my friend Sally Barns (Giorgio Bosso and Kiyo Okada also gave me Reiki too), acupuncture from Dr. Kaneko, moxa by Emily Kiba, cupping and gentle massage by Vladka Zboril, Rakkenho massage by Michiyo Masubuchi, therapeutic massage by Sal Venice, shiatsu by Asi Shnabel, and hypnosis by Jessica Porter. I am also taking care of myself daily with moxa over the kidneys, intestines, and liver—which has helped me not have to go to the bathroom so often at night—and doing neck, hand, toe, and finger exercises and Do-In whenever I can. Eric has been giving me leg and back massages before I fall asleep every night. I do vipassana meditations—even a short one or while lying down—whenever I can, everyday.

Azuki Tea

When the sixth round of chemotherapy came, I finally saw the light in the dark tunnel, because this could be the last chemotherapy. It took much longer for me to start feeling better after this one because my white and red blood cells and platelets were so low, and I was not able to even move much. I had to remind myself once again that the key to my successful recovery was to be patient!

I was seeing the light in the dark tunnel during 6th round chemotherapy so able to knit and relax.

I was so sure I’d have to go for a third blood transfusion, but my white blood cells and platelets came up a little bit, and Dr. Mead wanted my red blood cells to recover on my own this time, instead of getting a blood transfusion. I really appreciate her decision to trust my body would recover on its own.

Dr. Mead said, “You did very well with all six chemotherapy treatments. What do you think—it was not too bad, was it?”

I replied, “It was so hard and bad, and I did not know if I would make it!”

Her eyes got big. She said, “I am surprised to hear you say that. You had no complications, so I thought you did very well.”

“I guess I had no idea how hard it would be before I started,” I said.
“I love to be active, but I could not do anything.
I had to be lying down so many days with pain, and that was so hard for me.”

“I understand that you were healthy before and took care of yourself well,” she replied. “But this time, you had lymphoma cancer, and yours was very bad. Do you remember almost all of the liver being taken over by cancer cells? When you came to see me the first time, you could not even walk. I diagnosed that you had only weeks to live, but you look so much better now. You did not have to go back to the hospital with any serious issues, and you were able to eat without vomiting while you were in treatment. So, I would say congratulations for completing your sixth chemotherapy treatment successfully!”

She continued: “Your strength is going to come back slowly, but you must take it easy still and not do too much.
I know you want to go back to your gardening, walking with your dogs, teaching your cooking classes or yoga—but you must take time to heal. You have to have a PET scan test in the beginning of November to see how the chemotherapy treatments helped get rid of cancer. I have a good feeling it is gone, but we need to make sure and see what we can do next, and also take care of your hepatitis C. Now, go home and rest till all your blood cells are back to normal, and enjoy yourself. Again, remember not to do too much!”

I was happy to hear what she had to say.
I replied, “Thank you! You really helped me so much!”

With Dr. Monica Mead

In the beginning, I had a different oncologist who I did not feel understood my needs.
I wrote about him a little bit as “Cancer is Back” on May 21, 2017.
It was very difficult to communicate with him, and I felt I did not receive a fair consultation from him, since neither he nor his assistant contacted me when my PET scan result showed 90 percent of my liver taken over by lymphoma cancer in May 2017.

I am glad I did not give up and found Dr. Mead, who understands my lifestyle of macrobiotic nutrition and holistic approaches.

As I am starting to feel better, my mind tells me to do many things: “Do this, let’s do that”—but my heart and body say, “NO, not YET! Take time to heal fully first.”
I am learning to listen to my body and heart so I feel connected and comfortable with myself.

I am so grateful to everyone who has been supporting my recovery.
Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart.
There is the PET scan test soon so I hope to give you good news after mid-November.

With all my love,

Sanae 💖

Thank you for your prayers and continuous support!

We are grateful and invite you to help us at this time by YouCaring Fundraising to Support Sanae’s Recovery from Cancer or purchasing our books directly from us to cover my medical expenses.

Here are our books:

My post mailing address for sending your card, gift or check (check payable to Eric Lechasseru):

2610A 23^rd St.

Santa Monica, CA 90405

I will not be able to personally reply to each person, but I promise I will read everyone’s messages, emails, and cards.

Love, Sanae 💖

向日葵からのアドバイス

向日葵からのアドバイス：

訳：鈴木草千

明るく、

太陽のように快活に

そして

前向きに生きる。

幸せの種をみんなに広め。

昇進して、輝き、頭を堂々と高く上げる。

Advice from a sunflower:

Be bright,

sunny,

and

positive.

Spread seeds of happiness.

Rise, shine, and hold your head high.

小さい時から、いろんな花を育てるのが好きです。祖母が毎年、菊華展覧会の為に珍しい菊を育てていました。

Photo: This is similar chrysanthemum my grandmother was growing 祖母が育てていた菊に似ている珍しい菊花

祖母が美しい菊を育てているのを見ていつも子供ながらに感心していました。

祖母にインスパイアされて、７歳の時に理科のクラスで初めて花を育てる事になって、カンナを育てた事を今でもよく覚えています。

Canna flowers カンナのお花

翌年、市場の果物屋さんから木のりんご箱をもらって、うちの裏の空き地の土を入れてアマリリスを育てました。アマリリスは近所の人たちの目を止めるくらい綺麗な花を咲かせたので、小学生の私が育てたのを誰もが感心していました。

Amaryllis flowers アマリリスの花

その他、１０歳の頃、朝顔を夏に向けて育てて、朝、花が咲いて午後に花が閉じるというのを初めて見ました。

Morning glories flowers 朝顔の花

ライラック、コスモス、フリージア、チコリ、ホワイト・セイジ、クリーブランド・セイジ、グズベリーのネイティブ・プラントを育てたりする事を楽しみました。

Lilac flowers ライラックの花

Cosmos flowers コスモスの花

Freesia flowers フリージアの花

Chicory flower チコリの花

White sage ホワイトセイジ

Cleveland sage クリーブランド・セイジの花

Gooseberry flowers グズベリーの花

一時、蓮の花を育てる事を学んでいました。

Lotus flowers 蓮の花

昨年までは２〜３年ほど、プルメリアの花を育てる事を楽しみました。

Plumelia flowers プルメリアの花

私の気持ちのムードが変わるように、どの花を育てていくかも変わってきました。

今年は、向日葵。

オーガニックの向日葵の種を手に入れました。

種を蒔いた次の日に鳥とリスに全部、種を食べられてしまったとわかって、ビックリ！

種を蒔いた事がすぐわかって凄いなと思いました。

２回目からは、種を蒔いてネットを上に置いて種を食べられないようにしました。

下記は向日葵の種を植えて、育っっていく過程の写真です。

Planting sunflower seeds 向日葵の種を植える。

Sunflower seed has sprouted 向日葵の芽が出始めた。

Sunflower seedlings 向日葵の苗。

Sunflower bud – beautiful even before open the flower 向日葵の蕾。まだ花が咲いていなくてもとっても綺麗。

Sunflower is taking time to bloom 向日葵の花は時間をかけて咲いていく。

６回目（最後）のキモセラピーに行く前に元気にしてくれそうな私の好きな向日葵の語句（訳：鈴木草千）です。

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.”

—Helen Keller

向日葵のように、顔を太陽の光に向けていれば、影を見る事はないでしょう。

ーヘレン・ケラー

“I want to be like a sunflower; so that even on the darkest days I will stand tall and find the sunlight.”

暗く辛い日々も

真っ直ぐ立って日の光を見つける

向日葵に私はなりたい。

“Be happy. Do the best you can. Be good and kind.”

幸せになって。

ベストを尽くし。

優しく良い人間になる。

“We’re all golden sunflowers inside.”

—Allen Ginsberg

私たちの心はみんな黄金色の向日葵だ。

ーアレン・ギンズバーグ

私は向日葵。この６回目のキモセラピーを征服する！

愛を込めて、

草千 💖

みなさんの祈りとサポートに心から感謝します。

その他、私とエリックの本を購入してサポートしていただくこともできます。

宜しく、お願いします。

下記が私たちの４冊の本です：

カードや、ギフト、または、チェック（チェックの宛名はEric Lechasseurでお願いします）を送っていただく時は、下記の住所に送り下さい。

2610A 23^rd St.

Santa Monica, CA 90405

ひとりひとりの方には、返信は出来ませんが、
みなさんが送って下さる、メッセージ、E-メール、カードや手紙はちゃんと読む事をお約束します。

Love, Sanae 💖

Advice from a Sunflower

Advice from a sunflower:

Be bright,

sunny,

and

positive.

Spread seeds of happiness.

Rise, shine, and hold your head high.

I have loved growing many different flowers since I was a child. My grandmother grew chrysanthemums every year for the chrysanthemum exhibition award.

Photo: This is similar chrysanthemum my grandmother was growing

I really admired how she grew them so beautifully.
She inspired me, and I grew my first flower, “canna” when I was 7 years old.

Canna flowers

The following year, I grew a beautiful “amaryllis” in an apple crate, which I got from a fruits market, and got a soil from the back of our place, where it was all empty lots. They bloomed so beautifully and so many of neighbors were impressed that I was the one to grow them.

Amaryllis flowers

I also enjoyed growing “morning glories” in the summertime, seeing them bloom in the morning and close in the afternoon when I was 10 years old.

Morning glories flowers

“Lilac, cosmos, freesia, chicory and native plants like white sage, Cleveland sage and gooseberry” – are another my favorite flowers to grow.

Lilac flowers

Cosmos flowers

Freesia flowers

Chicory flower

White sage

Cleveland sage

Gooseberry flowers

For a while I learned how to grow lotus flowers.

Lotus flowers

The last few years, I really enjoyed growing plumeria.

Plumelia flowers

As my feelings change and moods change, what I grow has changed.

This year, it has been all about sunflowers, so I got the seeds and planted them. The first time, all the sunflower seeds were eaten by squirrels and birds. The next day, there was nothing in the pots. I was amazed how they knew I had just planted sunflower seeds. I had to cover the pots with nets after planting the seeds again.

Here are some photos of my sunflower seeds for planting to blooming.

Planting sunflower seeds

Sunflower seed has sprouted

Sunflower seedlings

Sunflower bud – beautiful even before open the flower

Sunflower is taking time to bloom

These are all quotes about sunflowers that I love.
They are all perfect for me to go #6 (last) chemotherapy this week.

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.” —Helen Keller

“I want to be like a sunflower; so that even on the darkest days I will stand tall and find the sunlight.”

“Be happy. Do the best you can. Be good and kind.”

“We’re all golden sunflowers inside.” —Allen Ginsberg

I am a sunflower and will conquer #6 chemo. Here I come!

Love, Sanae 💖

Thank you for your prayers and continuous support!

We are grateful and invite you to help us at this time by YouCaring Fundraising to Support Sanae’s Recovery from Cancer or purchasing our books directly from us to cover my medical expenses.

Here are our books: