Time Bank
Dr. Masahiko Mori, who I respect, always tackles everything in earnest with being highly motivated. He introduces a story about “Time Bank” replying to a question what motivates him so much.

Imagine the following bank. Every morning the bank empties your account and transfers $86,400. Unless you use up the money, it will be gone. What would you do with it? Of course, you would withdraw all the money.

Each of us does have a similar bank. It’s a bank of time.

Every morning you receive 86,400 seconds; every night the unused time is gone, which is never added to the next day’s time.

Every morning your account is opened; every night the rest of time you left is gone. Unless you use up the time, you end up losing it.

You can not go back the past. You have to live in the present using the time given. So, make a maximum investment in your time and make a maximum effort for your health, happiness, and success.

Clock’s hands never stop running.

To understand the value of one year, ask a failed student.

To understand the value of one month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

To understand the value of one week, ask an editor of weekly newspaper.

To understand the value of one hour, ask a person waiting for his girlfriend or her boyfriend.

To understand the value of one minute, ask a person who has just missed a train.

To understand the value of one second, ask a person who has just escaped an accident.

To understand the value of 0.1 second, ask an Olympic silver medalist.

So, do place the importance on every second.

You do not know about tomorrow at all.
Today is given to you.

That’s why now is called “present.”

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Written by S. Kusuki.
Translated by H. Ohta.  ¶ 4:45 AM 0 comments

  Kaekko Bazaar Brochure
Kaekko Bazaar Brochure (Japanese)

We have just printed out brochures on Kaekko Bazarr.
The special football autographed by a Gamba Osaka player will be at auction!
And you will be seeing a GAMBA BOY, a mascot of Gamba Osaka.

The brochures are Japanese version only. We are so sorry.  ¶ 5:12 AM 0 comments

  -One Month Ahead-
Kaekko Bazaar in Saito, Osaka
Kaekko Bazaaaaar!
- Let's Play with Exchanging -

Let's get together with toys! And get points and exchange them for another cool toys! It's VEEEEERY FUN! Of course, kids without a toy are very welcome. You can get points from easy games or lectures.

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Kaekko Bazaar
（日本語での案内はこちら）

Date: November 12, 2006

Saito-nishi elementary school
5-8-1 Asagi, Saito, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka

Kaekko Bazaar
12:30 - Registration
15:30 - Auction

Symposium in commemoration of setting up an incorporated NPO, "Child Chemo House."
13:00-14:30

ATTENTION!
1. Please bring a pair of slippers. You are not allowed to enter the venue with your shoes on.
2. No parking lot is available. You are encouraged to use public transportation. Please get on a bus bound for Saito-asagi at Senri-chuo station, and get off at the terminal.
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  Pros and cons
Imagine a situation where childhood cancer survivors work for medical service. What do you think whether they should talk openly about the illness or not?

In my experience, most cancer survivors seem to hide the fact in their workplace as nurses, counselors, or doctors. Knowing the fact, often indirectly after a long while, I wonder why they didn’t let me know.

We, parents of a child with cancer, can’t consult others with ease about worries during therapy. We tend to pile up worries within ourselves, thinking that others can’t understand such a frightening story, and that, first of all, they can’t know how to answer. This sense of alienation brings about huge stress of our daily life.

I often had to make an ultimate decision about the life of our child. And besides, as soon as possible, and by myself or by my husband and me only. It was extremely daunting and painful.

We would have been relieved a lot if I had talked to medical staff in such a situation who had similar experience.

If they work speaking out of a full heart about their experience, they may have to overcome various obstacles. If they work hiding the fact, however, I apt to feel that they don’t work efficiently. It would be a waste.

What do you think?

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Written by Masami-sama.
Translated by H. Ohta.  ¶ 6:21 AM 0 comments

  Children in my heart
Some children with cancer survived, but others passed away. I keep rather deceased ones in memory.

I recall this and that:
“He/she used to look forward to watching this program.”
“He/she loved this character.”
“This cuisine was his/her favorite.”
“His/her mother had a fierce temper.”

Falling in with cancer, I think, is out of luck, but not an unhappy incident. Children may learn something, feel others’ kindness, and get to be kind to others by experiencing a serious illness. You might think it is not so easy, but I believe that.

To share the belief with children and their family, I thought that we needed to educate staffs and build up a well-equipped hospital. This is partly why I decided to set up this project.

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Written by S. Kusuki.
Translated by H. Ohta.  ¶ 5:18 AM 0 comments

  A heartwarming scene in a pediatric ward
A conversation between a two-year-old boy and a pediatrician.

Doc: Open your mouth wide and say aah! Good job!
Boy: What's that?
Doc: A flashlight.

Boy: What's that?
Doc: A flash-light.

Boy: What's that?
Doc: A fl-a-sh-l-igh-t.

Boy: What's that?
Doc: An electric torch.
Boy: That's a flashlight.
Doc: You're able to say the word, aren't you? – Laughter all around –

It is children that really refresh pediatricians.

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Written by S. Kusuki.
Translated by H. Ohta.  ¶ 5:45 PM 0 comments