$600.00

Yukie Ikeda was a remarkably happy young 88-year-old woman who loved her family and friends. She worked as an office assistant for Yamada Company, a gardening supply company until the age of 80. Enjoying retirement, she lived in her home in Gardena, tending to her beautiful garden of plumerias.

 

On Mother's Day of 2008 she suddenly developed jaundice secondary to a pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We will never forget the kindness and expertise given to us by Barbara Clerkin, RN as she paved the way to see Dr. Reber and their team for surgery. She was then referred to W. Isacoff, MD, who treated her successfully with chemotherapy and remarkably 3 months later the tumor shrunk to 1/4 the original size. She subsequently, however, developed liver mets but again responded to therapy. She did remarkably well over the next three years, continuing to live at home with a good diet and no pain! F/U Cat scans off chemo over the past 2 years remained stable until 12/2012 with a progression of the tumor size. As we considered a new treatment plan, she unfortunately fell in 4-2013 and suffered a subdural hematoma. She was in the process of recovering but sadly on November 6, 2013 she passed away in her sleep with her family by her side.

 

We were very grateful that she remained amazingly healthy and happy for 5 1/2 years after her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We would like to thank the Hirshberg Foundation for their guidance and support.