My younger sister, Yukiko, was injured. On the day of the attacks, Yukiko got caught up in the attacks on the Marunouchi Line, which she was riding to go to a company workshop. She breathed in the poisonous sarin gas, was rescued in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest, and was resuscitated. She could have died at any moment, but her life was saved through her own strength and the power of her doctors. However, she is now bedridden for the rest of her life. Yukiko was taken care of at three different hospitals for eight and a half years after the attacks, and was discharged on September 13, 2003. After that, she began living with us.
Yukiko Asakawa (front right)
(Taken before the Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attacks)
(Provided by Kazuo Asakawa)
Twenty-three years have passed in an instant since the attacks, but now we are forced to make a big decision.
In October 2017, Yukiko had convulsive seizures and was hospitalized. The cause for them was unknown. Until now, it was possible for her to eat mashed food from her own mouth with help, but it was no longer possible for her to swallow on her own. Her body became stiff, her face turned upwards, and she could not eat. Later, the doctor and our family discussed how to give her nutrition, and decided on a gastrostomy. A gastrostomy is, simply put, a small hole in the stomach with a device put on top that to directly put nutrition into the stomach. Her phlegm has to be sucked out because of the gastrostomy, but Yukiko’s face always contorts and looks painful when it happens. However, she would suffocate if it isn’t suctioned out.
Yukiko will soon be discharged. Our family must choose whether to look after Yukiko at home or to place her in another hospital or facility. It’s also causing some financial anxiety. The most painful thing is that even if Yukiko understands, could she live together with us at home? Would a facility be better? With suctioning her phlegm, the gastrostomy and other things, worries abound. Her doctor and consultants at the hospital gave us advice, saying that it might be better to place her in a facility because she would need around-the-clock care due to the heavy amount of phlegm. Besides, my wife and I are working, so they said that taking care of her at home would be too much of a burden. When I think about Yukiko’s physical condition, I feel that the living environment of our family will greatly change from now on.
I felt once again that 23 years is really a long time. My father died in 2005, our children have left the house, and my mother, who is 93 years old, has gradually grown older.
But I am not completely depressed. Because Yukiko is trying her best to keep living, my family and I would like to continue giving her our firm support.
Yukiko Asakawa (front right)
(Taken before the Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attacks)
(Provided by Kazuo Asakawa)
Twenty-three years have passed in an instant since the attacks, but now we are forced to make a big decision.
In October 2017, Yukiko had convulsive seizures and was hospitalized. The cause for them was unknown. Until now, it was possible for her to eat mashed food from her own mouth with help, but it was no longer possible for her to swallow on her own. Her body became stiff, her face turned upwards, and she could not eat. Later, the doctor and our family discussed how to give her nutrition, and decided on a gastrostomy. A gastrostomy is, simply put, a small hole in the stomach with a device put on top that to directly put nutrition into the stomach. Her phlegm has to be sucked out because of the gastrostomy, but Yukiko’s face always contorts and looks painful when it happens. However, she would suffocate if it isn’t suctioned out.
Yukiko will soon be discharged. Our family must choose whether to look after Yukiko at home or to place her in another hospital or facility. It’s also causing some financial anxiety. The most painful thing is that even if Yukiko understands, could she live together with us at home? Would a facility be better? With suctioning her phlegm, the gastrostomy and other things, worries abound. Her doctor and consultants at the hospital gave us advice, saying that it might be better to place her in a facility because she would need around-the-clock care due to the heavy amount of phlegm. Besides, my wife and I are working, so they said that taking care of her at home would be too much of a burden. When I think about Yukiko’s physical condition, I feel that the living environment of our family will greatly change from now on.
I felt once again that 23 years is really a long time. My father died in 2005, our children have left the house, and my mother, who is 93 years old, has gradually grown older.
But I am not completely depressed. Because Yukiko is trying her best to keep living, my family and I would like to continue giving her our firm support.
(December 22, 2017)
（別ウィンドウで開きます）
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