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I first heard of Yumi Yamada, a 19-year old foreign exchange student from Japan on the local news back on May 1999. She came to America to reach for her dream in learning the American culture and to improve her English. Unfortunately, her dream was cut short because the news that I heard on the news was definitely not good. Yumi was in a coma due to viral encephalitis, a virus that attacks the brain tissue and virus that many people have died from. Yumi caught the virus from Japan, possibly from a mosquito or bug bite. She started exhibiting the symptoms and problems a few days later after arriving to the US. This news was very saddening because a few months earlier I had to write an article about a Japanese foreign exchange student who died from a brain hemorrhage. Another student who came to America to live their dream of coming to a foreign country, learning about a new culture and making new friends. For almost a decade, my group, the Asunaro Associations' main goal is to help foreign students learn English and to learn from other cultures and we learn from them. I know how hard it is for Asian foreign students to gain friendships outside from their culture and I make a priority to help as many as I can. In May 1999, I saw a picture of Masami Yamada over his daughter crying. A father who is a taxi driver who tries to support his family through his wage and support his daughter to come to the US to make her dream possible. He left Japan immediately to be with his daughter and I just felt sadness for the man and his family. I was to meet my good friend and photographer, Mahito Tomoi and a few others for lunch. Mahito knew there was something troubling me and the three were concerned why I was saddened. I told them the story about the Yamada's and they felt bad for the family and I told them that I wanted to do something but I needed their help. I know that our Japanese speaking community is small and Mr. Yamada needs a friend to talk to. My Japanese is not the greatest but I asked them to please join me in spending time with Mr. Yamada. To help him during his hard times. Fortunately, they agreed and we went to St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno. The latest news for Yumi was not good. She was hooked up on machines helping her survive. The cost of the hospitalization was high and the question of how to bring Yumi back to Japan while hooked up to the ventilator machines. The only way is to have her brought back to Japan is to have a special plane where she can be connected to special breathing ventilator machines and have a doctor caring for her but the cost would be around $79,000. Fortunately, the government Japanese channel, NHK and other news around the world covered her story and requests for donations were aired on television. Friends and family of Yumi worked hard in the next few weeks in raising the money to bring Yumi back to Japan. As we went to the hospital, I asked the doctor how her father, Masami Yamada was doing. The doctor told me that he was trying to be strong but the problem they have is the language barrier between the hospital and Mr. Yamada. Masami simply didn't have anyone to communicate with in Japanese. I told the doctor that's what we were here for. To help Masami Yamada and do our best in making sure his stay in the US more comfortable.
On June 8th, good news came to the family of Yumi. Family and friends were able to raise the $79,000 necessary to bring Yumi back to Japan. Everyone was happy because the prayers of getting the money in a short time and having Yumi back in her home with her family was answered. Masami stood with his hands covering his eyes when he heard the news. Tears streamed down his face as he smiled, thanking everyone for taking care of his daughter and for helping him through his ordeal. The good news of her going back was yet still overshadowed by the doubt of her recovering from the viral encephalitis. The doctors felt she would not survive since her case was very severe. If anything, the only positive situation aside from death is that she would survive althought it would be in a chronic vegetative state. We were relieved that Yumi and her father are now able to go back to Japan. The only thing we can do now is pray for her and the family. I arrived home, laid in bed and stared at the ceiling. What prompted me in the beginning to gather my friends in helping the Yamada's. Why was it so important to me to help them? I prayed to God to please give me the answer. Then the answer came one day, the news came in, that a major miracle has taken place. A little over a month after Yumi arrived in Japan, she was again the major headline in the news becuase she awoke from her comatose state and is now recovering from the encephalitis. A miracle has taken place. Her recovery will be a slow process and whether or not she will be able to walk and be 100% will take time. But according to a message given to the media, Yumi said that after fully recovering, she would like to go back to the United States and eat steak. I couldn't help but smile because I'm one person who is a strong believer in prayers and I really felt in my heart and believed that Yumi would beat this. The news of her miraculous comeback was a big shock and a relief for many of us who spent time with the family and even for the doctors. Dr. Michael Saul, a critical-care physician told the media that Yumi's case reminded him that miracles do happen. Her mother, Masako Yamada, wrote a letter to the media thanking both countries for their prayers, best wishes and for the financial help in her daughter's recovery. Attached to the letter was a message and a photo of Yumi sitting up with notes around her. The message by Yumi said: "I started eating my food and I will do my best in rehabilitation." I sat alone thinking about what has transpired and to know how God touches our lives in certain ways. I then received a call from Japan and it was Mahito asking if I heard the big news and I told him that I did and as the news continued to be shown in Japan, he was still in awe and asked me how was it possible that this can happen. I told him that it's because we all believe. We honestly believed in our hearts the reason we were called together that one day to visit Masami and Yumi Yamada in the hospital was because God wanted to show us that we should never give up on people who are in need. Although roles may be small, we can somehow help people by being there. And by being there it's because we believed that in our hearts, miracles do happen. -- Dennis A. Amith --------------------
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