Healing Gifts
Following her last chemotherapy session, Anj was moved to find a new permanent bell on the wall — a gift from Betty, honoring her sister and every patient at the center.
(Photo courtesy HPH.)
Anj Oto’s family has a long history with breast cancer. Her mother was diagnosed in her late 30s, her grandmother in her 60s. So when Anj was in her early 30s, she was eligible for annual mammograms nearly 10 years earlier than most women. Getting those early screenings was a lifesaving decision.
Her second-ever mammogram found something unusual. Further investigation at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children led to the conclusion her family feared: it was breast cancer. It was in the early stages but growing quickly.
“Her breast cancer was aggressive. We needed to give her a very aggressive treatment, which included surgery and chemotherapy,” says Dr. Jami Fukui, Kapi‘olani hematologist and oncologist.
At 34, when Anj and her husband Eric thought they would begin a family, she began chemotherapy. “Going through chemo was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Anj says. “It impacted me so much physically and mentally.”
About 450 women and 150 children depend on Kapi‘olani for cancer treatments every year. Kapi‘olani’s cancer center depends on community support to continue the care that only its specialized teams can provide for Hawai‘i’s women and children.
One dedicated partner is Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts. In July, its historic hotels — the Moana Surfrider, The Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Waikīkī, Sheraton Princess Ka‘iulani and Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa — joined together to raise money for Kapi‘olani. During “Mai Tais for Miracles,” hotel guests could buy a tasty burger or mai tai, with a portion of proceeds going to Kapi‘olani’s future Martha B. Smith Cancer & Infusion Center. The center will feature the latest technology and treatments for pediatric, breast and gynecologic cancers, collaborative spaces for specialists and expanded areas for patients and their loved ones.
The love and support of family and friends got Anj through those challenging months. As her weekly chemotherapy infusions came to an end, they learned that in other cancer clinics, patients ring a bell to mark the occasion. Anj’s sister Betty Tamayo, who is a manager at Kapi‘olani, said she would bring one to the current Women’s Cancer Center.
After her final chemotherapy session, Anj was surprised by a new permanent bell mounted on the wall. It was a gift from Betty in honor of her sister and all patients at the center.
Anj was the first to ring it, starting her own path from cancer patient to cancer survivor. It’s one she hopes many more women will follow.