Survivor from Hawaii recovers from serious illness after surgery in Japan
Mar. 26, 2010
by Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writer
An A-bomb survivor, now a resident of Hawaii, has undergone surgery in Tokyo. Emiko Ishimoto, 78, was exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and has suffered lymphatic edema of both legs. After the Hiroshima Prefectural Medical Association conducted health checkups of A-bomb survivors residing in North America, Ms. Ishimoto was offered an opportunity to come to Japan for treatment at the Japanese government's expense. The state-of-the-art operation at the University of Tokyo Hospital was successful, and she has been recovering from her illness.
Since the surgery, she has been receiving rehabilitation at the Gion Ushita Hospital in Asaminami Ward, Hiroshima. Ms. Ishimoto appeared at a press conference with hospital staff on March 24 and said with a smile, "I would like to tell survivors in Hawaii that they can receive medical treatment in Japan without worry."
After Ms. Ishimoto had her lymph nodes removed in an earlier cancer surgery, her lymphatic flow was reduced, resulting in severe difficulty in walking. She was examined when doctors from Hiroshima visited Hawaii last September. She came to Japan to receive medical treatment at the University of Tokyo Hospital, and underwent surgery in January of this year.
Makoto Matsumura, 60, leader of the delegation, was present at the press conference and commented, "To make sure survivors living abroad can receive the best medical treatment, we should continue to seek close cooperation with medical specialists living in other prefectures." Ms. Ishimoto will leave the hospital and return home to Hawaii on March 26.
(Originally published on March 25, 2010)
An A-bomb survivor, now a resident of Hawaii, has undergone surgery in Tokyo. Emiko Ishimoto, 78, was exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and has suffered lymphatic edema of both legs. After the Hiroshima Prefectural Medical Association conducted health checkups of A-bomb survivors residing in North America, Ms. Ishimoto was offered an opportunity to come to Japan for treatment at the Japanese government's expense. The state-of-the-art operation at the University of Tokyo Hospital was successful, and she has been recovering from her illness.
Since the surgery, she has been receiving rehabilitation at the Gion Ushita Hospital in Asaminami Ward, Hiroshima. Ms. Ishimoto appeared at a press conference with hospital staff on March 24 and said with a smile, "I would like to tell survivors in Hawaii that they can receive medical treatment in Japan without worry."
After Ms. Ishimoto had her lymph nodes removed in an earlier cancer surgery, her lymphatic flow was reduced, resulting in severe difficulty in walking. She was examined when doctors from Hiroshima visited Hawaii last September. She came to Japan to receive medical treatment at the University of Tokyo Hospital, and underwent surgery in January of this year.
Makoto Matsumura, 60, leader of the delegation, was present at the press conference and commented, "To make sure survivors living abroad can receive the best medical treatment, we should continue to seek close cooperation with medical specialists living in other prefectures." Ms. Ishimoto will leave the hospital and return home to Hawaii on March 26.
(Originally published on March 25, 2010)
