The Cataract eye Surgery I, Life

Hiroko decided to have the cataract eye surgery on October 1.  Hiroko’s eyes were so bad last 3, 4 years that she had to use magnifying glass all the time.  Reading a dictionary, certain Bible, Hymn books in the church, need the magnify glasses.  2 years ago, Hiroko’s optometrist said, they couldn’t make the degree of the glass stronger any more.  So Hiroko visited her own doctor for consultation, recently.

Many are telling Hiroko the surgery is very, very simply done.  It would be done within 30 to 45 minutes.  Many said that those who take this surgery would make life changing experience.  How can the surgery change one’s life?

The surgery might be very simple, but all the procedure will not be so simple.  Before the surgery, it is necessary to see the doctors three times.  The statement of very simple surgery for cataract is half true like Hiroko who prefers not to visit the doctors.

1^st visit to the ophthalmologist – consult with the doctor whether it is better to have surgery or not after testing your eyes thoroughly. Hiroko had already made a decision, so there are not too much to talk about it.  One thing, Hiroko’s eye has Astigmatism, so the doctor suggest of Hiroko to think about using the Astigmatism lens or not.  After that with the surgical coordinator those who decided to have the surgery makes the schedule of the surgery date and appointments before and after the surgeries. 

Here is the Hiroko’s schedule and appointments:

September 22, with Hiroko’s own doctor for physical

Same day, with eye surgeon for sizing eyes.

(Hiroko is lucky, her physical doctor and eye surgeon are located at the same building,)

October 1, for left eye surgery

October 2, for the following day of the first surgery visit

October 8, for the one week after surgery visit

October 15, for right eye surgery

October 16, for the following day of the second surgery visit

October 22, for the one week after surgery visit

WOW!  It takes one month to complete the surgery.

Now, Hiroko understood why the Hiroko’s friend optometrist suggested Hiroko to have the surgery while the weather is good.  In Chicago’s winter, no one knows when the snow storm comes of under zero weather happened the snow storm or under zero weather.  No one can keep the appointments under these weather.

Another minus thing is eye-drops.  There are three different eye-drops and start putting the drops on the day before the surgery, and so many times a day.  Well, Hiroko has to study about it how the schedule is.

As of September 29, Hiroko finished her physical check-up.   Everything is fine for operation.  One thing, Hiroko’s constipation will be a problem after the operation.  So one week before the surgery, Hiroko has to try to take prunes and prune juice, and stool softener.  It seems not working.  Oh, well, Hiroko will do somehow or others, over all give thanks to the Lord God.

Visiting the eye surgeon in sizing the eyes was finished.  With the initial visit, Hiroko was told that there are three different choices for cataract eye surgery regarding the new lenses. 

·         Monofocal Lens – Improved distance vision. Cost usually covered by insurance and Medicare.  Will likely still require glasses for close-up vision

·         Astigmatism-Correcting Monofoal Lens – Improved distance vision, usually without glasses for astigmatic patients.   Will likely still require glasses for close-up vision.  Cost of the lens is $1100 for one eye and will not gbe covered by insurance and Medicare

·         True performance at all distances, near through distance.  Reduced the need for glasses.  May experience glare/halos around lights at night and difficulty in low lighting situations like driving at night.  Cost for these lens will not be covered by the insurance and Medicare.

Hiroko will use the Monofocal Lens.  Hiroko heard couple of problem stories using these special lenses.  Beside the cost of the lens are surprising numbers.  Hiroko doesn’t mind using the glasses.

Well, this post is before the cataract eye surgery, and Hiroko will post another one how the surgery would be done and how Hiroko would be doing.

Please pray for Hiroko.  Thanks!

Friends Come from Far

Dan-san brother Tetschan and wife Saerusan came from California.

Their bed-room are ready.

Here they came.  Their suite-case are in the bedroom, but Tetschan and Saerusan aren’t here, they are at the hospital.

The first night, we had a big and scary problem.  Tetschan is little over the borderline diabetes.  They left California early morning, and didn’t eat anything until 4:30 PM, because none of the Airline is not serving foods any more.  Hiroko prepared to serve the dinner with steak and salmon.  This is the poison food for him according to the doctors.  He had sudden diabetes coma.  However, in the beginning no one knew what was happening.  We all were scared so much, that our mind was blocked with black shadow expressed by Saerusan later.  Dan-san called emergency, but Tetschan was fine when the emergency crews came in.  The emergency crew said they had to take Tetschan to hospital to check his heart and brain. Within one hour, hospital found out Tetschan didn’t have a heart attack or stroke but he had to stay overnight for further examination.  The following day the hospital determined Tetschan had diabetes coma.  Hiroko’s foods called “SOS” by the military words.   In the condition of diabetic people, orange juice or 1 hard candy should be given, before any solid food, especially steak and salmon.

He was getting fine to go to the picnic held by Amanda/Steven.

Steven rented this Gazebo.  At night bright light was shinning inside the Gazebo very beautifully.  Hiroko took the photos, but with her wined eye could not take any good photo at night.

Amanda, Lady of the house

Foods for the picnic

Many mores

Good desserts were there, too

Part of the people who attended the picnic

This photo was taken by the boy, belowthis photo with Hiroko’s camera.

After that, Hiroko entertained them by taking them to the Navy Pier to see the Shanghai Dragon show and Field Museum and Aquarium.  We met our old friends who has been working at the Field Museum.  Dan-san drove them to visit Rev. Satoh’s wife in the nursing home one day.

For the lunch and dinner for the rest of the week, Goya champuru, Italian roast-beef sandwich, Ramen at Santoku that restaurant took first place as the best taste in California, Calo Italian restaurant were served, and our mutual friend treated us to Chinese dinner.  Hiroko forgot to take any photos of those food and restaurant.

Hatsuho-kai

This is the Bible study group with Rev. Kei Satoh-sensei formed almost 50 years ago to learn how to teach Bible to the children..  Every year this group meets when Saeru visits Chicago.  We all enjoyed the company of each other and felt young again.

Rev. Kei Satoh-sensei

Left side is the lady of the house who opened her home to the meeting.

These are the part of the members of Hatsuho-kai group.  Three have already passed away and several more couldn’t attend this time.

These were the foods purchased for the day’s lunch.  

The lady of the house provided these delicious cakes.  Thanks for those cakes, and drinks, and letting us use her beautiful home.  See you all again soon!

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Hiroko writes about the Bible study given by Sensei and his recent news about his wife.

His teaching came from Ephesians 5:16, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Sensei asked the question what you are making the most of every opportunity, or how you are doing with this verse.

Before we started the Bible study, Sensei let us know his wife’s condition.  His wife was laying down on the floor from a fall with bleeding from her head, when Sensei found her early this year.  Emergency came and took her to nearby hospital, but the hospital doctor recommended to take her to a more equipped hospital for her condition by helicopter.  Opening her skull the doctors cleaned the blood thoroughly.  Since them she was in coma for several months.  Changing couple of hospital, now she is staying in one of the good therapy nursing home near Sensei’s home.  Since last one month she has been in and out of coma.  The following day Tetschan/Saerusan and others visited her; she asked Sensei why she was in the state.  Sensei answered to her that he didn’t know, but God knows everything.

Well, where are we?  Let’s go back to the question.  One person answered the question and asked Sensei, according to Roman 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for his good of those who love him, who have been called according to the purpose” God shows us one after another His powerful miracles in our lives, “don’t you, Sensei, think God will be using her experience as Sensei’s wife has been going through right now?  Sensei told us that he had already talked to her using the verse and God will use her experience and opportunities to give comfort and wisdom to others.

Sensei explained the verse and asked us that let’s make the most of every opportunity without worry and complaints.  Average age of the members of the Hatsuho-kai is 75 or older, so our body is not working well, having pain all over the body, but God knows everything and he has a good plan for us to do with our abilities.  Ephesians 2:10 “ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  We don’t have to look for the good works, God has already planned for us to do God’s good work.  God gives us the opportunities to do the things for His glory.

Sensei’s teaching was very detailed for this biblical truth.  It was very good for Sr. Citizen.  Thanks to Sensei to remind us again we can do good work for our Lord God even though in this old age!  Please take care of yourself, and give us very good Bible study again.  Thanks!

This is Hiroko’s additional idea.  In order to find out this good work of God’s plan for us, we have to communicate with God and walking together with God in our daily life.  Quiet time starts with 10 minutes; no Bible, no talking, just quiet times, and make the time longer and longer.  It is one kind of prayer but you are not talking, and try listening to what God says.  God sometime talks with His audio voice, God talks in your dream, God talks to your heart while you are cooking or doing other things, God talks to you with vision while you are spending quiet time, God talks to you by someone else; such as Pastor’s sermon, conversation with friend, and of course through the Bible we can find God’s will, plan many other things.  This is Hiroko’s experience. 

If there are some other way to communicate with the Lord,  please let us know.  Thanks!

Gardens, Nursery

It is the end of August.  In Chicago, the temperature has been 90 degree.  It is very hot.  This year, 2013, the weather was very strange.  There were lots rain in June, so the most cucumber plants were melted (destroyed) in the rain, but we had the comfortable temperature around 65 to 70 degree during July and beginning of August.. The weather was very wonderful while Hopechan was here.  Hopechan was very lucky.  After Hopechan left for Japan, the temperature in Chicago has been very hot.

Well, has this weather affected the plants, or the seeds of plants were bad?  It is a question?

These are Hiroko’s four cucumber plants, one from Japanese cucumber seed, was survived in the rain, and other three plants were bought from nearby nursery.  There is no cucumber on these plants until now, August 25.  Hiroko is thinking to clean up, but may be waiting for this hot temperature has passed.

Same as these hot pepper plants, Taka-no-Tsume (Cayenne peppers), and Thai red peppers.  There are no fruits at all. 

Only these Konnyaku plants, Stinky plants, are doing very well.

These are Dan-san’s garden.

Dan-san had hard time getting his usual cucumber seeds and plants, so he bought these cucumber seeds and plants from nearby Nursery, and planted them couple weeks after the Memorial days.  He has harvested Japanese cucumbers and Asian cucumbers from these cucumber plants.  Asian cucumber is fat but very crunchy and tasty, and Japanese cucumber is thin and long as Hiroko used to harvest one.

These are ground green beans.  Dan-san and Hiroko enjoyed the beans three times.

These tomato plants has been giving Dan-san, Hiroko and others lots of delicious tomatoes.  Hiroko has already put some of them in the freezer for using in the winter.

This is Land-lord’s cucumbers and tomato plants.

Only one cucumber was harvested, but because of this hot weather, Hiroko sees couple of small, small thin cucumber on each of the plants.

Tomato plants are doing very well. 

These are green and red Shiso.

The plants are not growing big and tall, but there are very good amount of leaves.  Hiroko shares these leaves with Japanese restaurant.  One package, about dozen or so leaves, sold in Mitsuwa around $1.00.

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Hiroko wants to write about why the weather was so strange.

Japanese Department of Hiroko’s Church, Devon Church was closed on March 31, because of retiring of Japanese Pastor and decreasing membership.  Some of the members started to attend the English Section.  Hiroko has been translating Pastor Carlini’s sermon every Sunday.  He will be speaking Psalm 22 on this Sunday, September 1. 

Psalm Chapters 21 and 22 are connected Psalms.  David wrote these two Psalms in which David expressed that his trust to God, and then God’s such blessing to David.  Especially in the Chapter 22, David sung, he trusted and God answered with His blessing of victory.  The ending half of Chapter 22 described that David gave praise and thanks to God, and then, God inspired David to see the future of the world in this praise and thanks.  It is called Eschatology.

Many sentences and words from this Psalm 22 were used by Jesus Christ in His suffering.  The verse 6-18 described the Lord Jesus’ suffering, and 22-29 were mentioned Eschatology and the Millennium Kingdom.

Pastor Carlini suggested reading Luke 21:5-26 for further explanation of Eschatology by Jesus.  The changing of the Universe and the weather were mentioned in these verses.  Revelation, Daniel and many other prophecy books are described further more detailed Eschatology.  You can be realized in these Bible verses that one of the sign for Eschatology is unusual weather.

God’s plan for the human salvation was mentioned in Genesis Chapter 3, and after that there are mentioned Eschatology on the many books in the Old Testament and New Testament.  Why the Eschatology is so important?  God made the human being, and in order to love the human being, and to communicate with the human being, let the human being to know the God’s love, grace and compassion through the Eschatology stories in the Bible.

If you want to read the Pastor Carlini’s Sermon, Psalm 22, please go to Devon Church’s web-site:  www.devonchurch.org

He has already spoken the book of Daniel and Revelations, so you can read those books, too.

Hopechan Came to Chicago, From Afar

Hopechan was staying at the home of Dan-san and Hiroko from July 29 to August 14.  Her staying Chicago in Photo Diary were posted in Hiroko’s Japanese Blog at http://Ishimaru92.blog105.fc2.com

Here are some highlight days:

On July 29, Hopechan arrived at O’Hare

2^nd day, Tuesday is Hiroko’s laundry day.  Hopechan helped Hiroko at Laundromat.

While waiting for the laundry was finished, Dan-san, Hopechan and Hiroko had breakfast at McDonald.

Hopechan was shopping at Disney, Forevery21, and many other stores in Chicago downtown.

3^rd day, Hopechan was down.  She said she slept very well first night and woke up at 6 as usual schedule in Japan, so Hiroko took her for shopping, but her jet-lag came one day later.  She was slept all day long.  Hiroko tried not over doing. 

4^th day AM, Hopechan was shopping at Sam’s Club.  She loved to push the cart.

Okinawa-san took care of Hopechan overnight with her same age grand-daughter, Danielle.  Okinawa-san treated her #1 Chicago Pizzas for their dinner and let them play at village carnival.  Hopechan played piano for her, too.

5^th day PM, Hopechan came back from Okinawa-san around 1 PM.

At night Hopechan and Hiroko went to see Chicago’s night view from John Hancock. 

6^th day, Hopechan’s hard working day

In the morning, Hopechan came with Dan-san and Hiroko to clean the church early morning.

Hopechan gave the water to the plants in the Hiroko's Porch Garden

Afternoon, Hopechan worked hard to help Hiroko to have the welcome party for Hopechan.

Cleaning the shrimps

Lisa/Dave, Elsa/Richard came to meet Hopechan and having dinner.  Hopechan was setting the table and made Miso soup.  Hopechan was very happy to see them all, and especially received cash present from Elsa who couldn’t take her shopping and manicures.

Hopechan attended Devon Church’s Sunday Service.

Helping the Puppet show

Shopping at Navy Pier in the afternoon.

It was planned to go to SixFlags Great America, but predicting the rain by the weather report, so the plan was changed.  It was rainy cold day, so Hopechan went to shopping stores nearby.  She loves to push the cart.

Hopechan went to SixFlags Great America. - no photos for the day

Because of Hiroko’s arrangement didn’t work out well, Hopechan went to SixFlags with Richard’s family, who can’t speaks any Japanese.  Hopechan was very up-set, but Hopechan tried to communicate with them by her limited English knowledge, Hiroko thinks.  She has very good hearing skill, so it helped her.  It gave her very good experience to test her English skill.  Hopechan and Richard’s family communicated somehow, and they said they had very good time and tired.

She learned many expressions, such as “Oh, my goodness!” “I see!”  “I think so!” “I wanted to see “(the name of movies,” and please play it for me!” (She wanted to see the movies, so each time she asked Dan-san in English,) and many other expressions.  She was trying to use those English expressions and used it very well.

After the SixFlags Great America, Hopechan was so tired again, that she didn’t wake up and couldn’t attend church school.

Hiroko planned to take her to Millennium Park and Willies Tower with one the girl from Church.  Hopechan said she was fine, so we went to the places as planned.  Raining very hard that afternoon, all of them didn’t have a good time. 

Hopechan couldn’t attend the church school again. 

She loves to go out at night.  Before the night, Hopechan wanted to go to Aquarium and Art Institute.  This is inside the building, so she loved walking around.  Thanks for Joyce to get the ticket for Aquarium. - no photos in Aquarium

At evening of the day, Lisa/Dave came to walk around the downtown Chicago with Hopechan and Hiroko.  Before going to see the fountain, Lisa took us for a very interesting restaurant for the dinner.  Thanks to Lisa/Dave for the dinner and protecting us to walk around the downtown Chicago at night.  Hopechan loves walking around in the dark night.  It has been very dangerous in Chicago downtown at night recently, so Lisa/Dave’s attending felt very safe. - no photos for Chicago Famouse Fountain and night view

Hopechan couldn’t attend the church school again.  Dan-san said she was studying home works all morning.  Planned to go to Navy Pier to ride boat and Willis Wheel, and seeing the Shanghai Acrobat show.  She didn’t want to go for walking around under the sunlight.

Even the teenager, many Japanese girls does not want to walk around under the sun light.  They are very careful not getting sun burn, and she used lots of suntan lotion.  She kept saying I don’t like her legs to be darkest in the class.  So she missed playing and swimming at Lake Michigan beach, bicycle ride, Fareless wheel and boat ride at Navy Pier, walking around the street fair, the art fair, etc. planned by Hiroko

However, Hopechan started to make the origami cranes for the children in the church school.  It seemed she would try to attend the church tomorrow.

Hopechan played Japanese songs with piano and Hiroko sang along with it.  It made Hiroko very happy and nostalgias for Japan.

Hopechan was finally attending the church school.  She seemed to be enjoying with some girls in the class.  After the church school, she had to complete her diary, so Hiroko helped her with Hiroko’s photo diary.  After the lunch Hopechan went to shopping again.

Hopechan attended Devon Church’s Sunday Service.

Hiroko planned to take Hopechan to Buddhist Temple Summer Fair, but she didn’t want to go walking around under the sunlight.  Hiroko went alone to buy the Teriyaki Chicken.  Everyone enjoyed the chicken for their dinner.

Coming back from Buddhist Temple, Hiroko took Hopechan to eat ice cream.  She ate so much ice cream.

On the Way to Mitsuwa, Dan-san put the gasoline in his car. Hopechan cleaned his car while he put gasoline in.

Shopping at Mitsuwa.  She was reading the Japanese tour guide book, and told Hiroko little by little where she wanted to go.  One of the places was Mitsuwa, and had lunch.  

After the Mitsuwa she wanted to go to the shopping village.  She found Pink store and bought pink, pink clothes.  She said she loves Pink.

She had to started to think about how to pack.

Last day, she told Hiroko she wanted to taste the Garrett pop-corn which is listed in the book.  At the same time she shopped at Disney again.

She actually started packing.  It was very hard to make package.

August 14, Hopechan left for Japan.  Hiroko can’t deal with teenagers any more.  It was tormented Hiroko for the two weeks after Hopechan left.  In Japanese saying “it is very happy and good to see the grand-children staying, but it is also very good to see them leave for their home.”  It is good saying.