5% of Glioblastoma (stage 4 brain cancer) patients live past 5 years. But Maki is here, alive, living her 6th year.

2 weeks ago (6/23/21) my sister went in for her routine MRI check-up. The thought of a reoccurring tumor never even crossed any of our minds. Especially since she JUST beat it for the second time in September/October 2020. She was doing amazing- Back to work, working out multiple times per week, and felt like she could finally move forward. The doctors informed us of a new tumor growing in the center of her brain. And that it is inoperable because of the location and operating may do more harm than good. She also received the maximum amount of radiation in October 2020 so that was also ruled out.

As you could imagine, this has caused me to deeply reflect on the impact that my sister has had in my life. I’ve always known what she has done for me and greatly appreciated having her in my life. But putting these thoughts into words so she could know as well, means a lot to me.

My whole life, she has guided me in the direction that I needed to go. From a young age, I wanted to be just like her. She was confident, pure fun-loving energy. Everybody just always wanted to be around her, she had a magnetic force. I wore her clothes, used her hair/beauty products. My physical appearance was a bi-product of her influence.

Then comes my career- my drive. My sister got me my first job as a receptionist at the age of 14. This taught me independence very quickly and caused me to learn how to manage my finances as a freshman in high school.

She had always looked out for me. At the age of 18, she even got me my second job- Where I learned all about the art of selling.

After being in community college for a while, I felt lost and stuck. I wanted to transfer to a University but I had no idea what to major in. I remember this day back in January 2013 like it was yesterday.  I was lost and I kept questioning, hoping to find the answer of which direction I should go. Maki and I went hiking at Mission Peak – I wasn’t planning on bringing it up and toward the end of our hike, I decided to talk about how I was feeling. She then told me about what one of her friends did for a living. I thought “Wow, that’s exactly what I want to do! What did she study?!” Marketing. I got my answer. Immediately when I got home I looked up what pre-reqs were required to transfer to SJSU for a degree in business, marketing. Exactly a year and a half later I started my first day as a marketing student. She had guided me and pushed me in the direction that I was meant to go.

And the most significant guidance- In 2015 when she first got diagnosed with Glioblastoma, she changed my life forever. She sparked a deep-rooted mission within me to live a happier, healthier lifestyle going forward. To cook with only whole organic ingredients, to dive deeper into my spiritual growth and to live a more holistic lifestyle. To be conscious of what we surround ourselves with and how food/thoughts/energy are a direct correlation to our physical and mental well-being. This is the foundation behind everything I stand for.

As you can see, Maki has always been one of the biggest teachers in my life. She had always had a major influence on my existence without even being aware. I truly wouldn’t be who I am today with out her.

She started a new chemotherapy on Friday 7/2/21 called CCNU. This new chemotherapy is used once a tumor stops responding to the original chemotherapy medication and a reoccurring tumor starts to grow. This is an extremely high dosage. It is supposed to stay in your system for 6 weeks. The doctors advised she take the first week off of work when she started because she would be wiped out (Which would be this week).

This photo was of her TODAY.  5 days after she started that new chemo medication. After she went on an afternoon bike ride today.  ????? How?

Because her strength, her will, her drive, and motivation to live, outstands every odd that is against her.

She decided she will live, therefore she will live. 

She’s not giving up. She’s here to change the statistics. She’s changing her thoughts, she’s changing the way she eats, she’s adopting a new lifestyle.

She is my true soulmate, she has guided me through all aspects of my life and has always pointed me in the direction I was meant to go. I have full faith in her healing. She will get through any obstacle put in her path. I will do everything in my power to see it through. And now it is my turn to guide her to a new way of life, full of peace and balance.