Mushroom Club celebrates members’ 64th birthday, seeks greater understanding of microcephalic patients
Mar. 24, 2010
by Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writer
The Mushroom Club, a group of microcephalic patients, their families, and supporters, held a general meeting and celebrated the 64th birthdays of its members at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum on March 22. Microcephaly is a condition caused by exposure to radiation in the early stage of pregnancy, and currently 18 patients belong to the group. Present at the gathering were 41 people, including nine patients, their families, and supporters.
Many of the patients with this condition were exposed to radiation while still in their mother's uterus early in the pregnancy, and were born around March 1946. Those in attendance celebrated the patients' birthdays and had birthday cake together. The members shared their latest news and talked about their work and their health.
One of the patients, Taketsugu Chawada, 64, lives in a group home and has worked at a welfare workshop since his mother's death. He said, "After our parents die, we have no one to rely on."
Yoshio Nagaoka, 60, President of the Mushroom Club, commented, "We would like to urge the central government to be more understanding of the current conditions involving microcephalic patients and provide human resources for assistance as well as financial support."
(Originally published on March 23, 2010)
Related article
Memorial gathering for founder of Mushroom Club held in Hiroshima (March 24, 2009)
The Mushroom Club, a group of microcephalic patients, their families, and supporters, held a general meeting and celebrated the 64th birthdays of its members at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum on March 22. Microcephaly is a condition caused by exposure to radiation in the early stage of pregnancy, and currently 18 patients belong to the group. Present at the gathering were 41 people, including nine patients, their families, and supporters.
Many of the patients with this condition were exposed to radiation while still in their mother's uterus early in the pregnancy, and were born around March 1946. Those in attendance celebrated the patients' birthdays and had birthday cake together. The members shared their latest news and talked about their work and their health.
One of the patients, Taketsugu Chawada, 64, lives in a group home and has worked at a welfare workshop since his mother's death. He said, "After our parents die, we have no one to rely on."
Yoshio Nagaoka, 60, President of the Mushroom Club, commented, "We would like to urge the central government to be more understanding of the current conditions involving microcephalic patients and provide human resources for assistance as well as financial support."
(Originally published on March 23, 2010)
Related article
Memorial gathering for founder of Mushroom Club held in Hiroshima (March 24, 2009)
