Iterashaimase

Back in japan after a long time away. Chie is doing well here in Japana and happy to see her mother. Her mother cannot speak anymore and is bedridden with a feeding tube in place to eat, but she is alive and I am sure happy to hear Chies voice.
I cannot thank all of her supporters for helping to get her home to see her mother while she is still here with us. I could never have lived it down had we not made it in time for her to see her. Chie holds her mother in the highest regard and the one person she love and respects the most. It was on my mind constantly as we prepared for this trip and with all of your help we made it. I know to some it may not make sense but to others it does. In learning the Japanese culture as I am sure I have said before, they put their parents up there next to God and nothing else could explain it.
We are adjusting to the life here. Chie seems to be making the adjustment well, while I ,, well I am struggling. Its very small, is about all I can say. Spoiled, I guess I have been to bathrooms where more than One person can fit. My Japanese is rusty but managing to understand 20 percents and able to read the conversations anoth10 or 20, not that that maatters much to her father who speaks to me as if I was fluent and have lived here for 30 years. Instead of watchiing Yoshimoto Shinkigeki , I wake up every morning to *Shirafuji Shinkigeki* and can hardly stop smiling and laughing enough to communicate with anyone anyways.
There is not much for me to do here so I have just been spending days scouting out the trains and trainstops for handicap accessibility and bathrooms so that I can safely take Chie out for some site seeing or something in the near future. Its not so disabled friendly as the states but I am really impressed with some of the upgrades they have made towards that area. I should be able to get Chie out and about soon.
We did get to see some cherry blossoms before they went away and that was important for Chie and I both. JoJo is heree and helping me out. Good to see him and Yoshiko both and baby FIFI. Joe has one more on the way coming this august so I am hoping to steal him away for a vacation before he has his feet planted for the next 18 years. We are planning our proposal to the dear sweet , kiind , understanding , great , terrific , besst, ichiban Yoshiko at the moment. I hope she says YES!!! Iwill let everyone know
Yoshiko Danjo!!!!! Pleasse contact Mikio for us , we saw a very bad picture of Daisuke holding his shoulder and it not make us very happy. We hope he is ok and send our love to him and you all ,
We will try to keep this updated as much as possible for everyone, sorry no pictures,, I havent found my camera yet. Ithink it is somewhere in one of my bags , Ill findi t soon though , so keep checking back,
lots of love
DAVE

Benefit Concert Pictures!!

It was such a beautiful night , we thank all of you so much for all you help and support.

THANK YOU

FOR A

WONDERFUL NIGHT

We have finallly learned how to put the video on here and so Chie wanted to tell everyone thank you for such a wonderful evening. It took many takes for her to get this down. She was so overwhelmed that she could not put into words her feelings.

Thank you all,

2 Weeks To Go

Two Weeks To G0

and

Chie is getting excited! ! !

Chie is getting really excited about the upcoming piano concert!!! It was a couple of weeks ago that we had the pleasure of meeting and playing with the star performers, Yoko Unno, Yoko Black, and Mr. Nielson, as well as, Ms. Eva Gay Brown, Akiko Walker, and Ms. Yasuko Tachibana who are coordinating, organizing, and doing everything else to make this a success!

Chie is so excited about the upcoming concert thanks to our inspirational rehersal we had the other night. Chie is still quite motivated and has been practicing, not only at home, but has her keyboard set up at rehab and has been playing for her friends there too. I know I wrote about it shortly afterwards but wanted to share the pictures with everyone as well because you can really see the joy you all brought to Chie's face.

Let me first demonstrate her practices prior to our meeting;

Exhibit A

and then with the pianists,

I think she made a friend.

Thank you

thanks

We want to thank all those contributing kindness to Chie recently. We thank you folks so much for your help. We have seen new support come in from all over the United States, all the way from NE , PA to California. It could not have come at more needed time. I have a feeling much of that love came a little place on Shadybrook. Thank you for putting the word out.

Youre a legend ,,

cheers, to you all

and

we hope to see you as many of you as possible at the benefit concert!!

Chie takes back the piano with,

Hosted by International Music Friends,

two of the groups co-founders,

Yoko Black and Yoko Unno

will be performing as a duo for this special Occassion.

Chie,

will return to the piano for her first public performance since her accident accompanied by

Special Guest

The ever so delightful ...

Mr. Stephen Nielson

This unique group of talented musicians are joining forces for one night

in an effort to raise support

for Chie's cause

To be honest, I am very suprised!! However, I am getting ready.

The other day , my piano was tuned and Mr. Nielson came and ,,,It was soooo nice!! I t was excellent! He makes me so sunny. I am so jealous, the double Yokos are learning from Mr. Nielson.

I appreciate Ms. Eva Gay Brown, that was so nice of her to come and listen to my piano.

I could not use my left hand as I once had, but I was inspired by Mr. Nielson masterful touch of the ivories, allowing them to speak to me the feelings and emotions of the music I once played.

I want to be able to succeed on the 27th.

I want to smile on the that day."

After almost 3 years of day in, day out rehabilitation of nothing but hardwork and determination trying to recover a life she once had, she is now set to discharge from rehabilitation.

Her biggest battle throughout this whole ordeal was dealing with the fact that she was unable to leave therapy to return home and see her mother who has been suffering from Parkinson's Disease and was recently hospitalized four months ago. Chie desired to be with her mother always but could not halt therapy without loss of coverage.

Chie has not received any support from neither the U.S. nor Japanese governments. Now, with her mother's health taking a turn for the worse, She and her husband must return to Japan to be examined by their doctor in person and to aid her mother in her struggle.

All offerings of support will go to help her get home and see to her mothers health as well as, Prepare for her next stage of recovery at home alone and without all the therapists supervison and aid.