Around The Islands
Mini Profile
Ryan Kitamura:
Surviving a Tough Battle
Ryan Kitamura is a 14-year-old who has already fought the toughest battle most of us might never know or face. On the surface, he's your average teen, a fun-loving youngster. But beneath the surface, he's a tough warrior. He's been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) since 6th grade. ALL is a disease that usually plagues children aged 10 and under. Ryan recalls the day when he first got the news, "My first thought was…it wasn't true. Something like that you only hear from someone else."
What Exactly Is Ryan's War?
A patient is diagnosed with ALL when the blood and bone marrow samples show an increased number of blast cells. A healthy bone marrow makes blood-forming cells, which transform into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. An ALL patient produces an excess of immature white blood cells, otherwise known as lymphocytes. The marrow produces so many lymphocytes leaving no room to make the red cells, white cells, and platelets. Some of the symptoms prevalent in ALL patients are: anemia, bruising easily, and frequent infections.
A Real Trooper
Ryan has been gaining ground on his road to recovery from the bone marrow transplant in July. Six months after his surgery, he's still very limited as to what he can do. His frail-adolescent body is bloated from the 30 pills he takes daily, and he receives an intravenous injection once a week to clean his body of toxins. He's a trooper who appreciates each and every moment. "Breathing and every moment you have is so precious when you think of never coming back again." And it's no surprise that he's a World War II 'maniac.' His mom, Elaine, says, "You can ask him anything about World War II!"
Cadet Airman First Class
Because Ryan takes nothing for granted, he finds pleasure in helping others. A sophomore at Kaiser High School, he gives back to his community through the Boy Scouts of America and JROTC. He was involved in scouting for five years prior to being diagnosed with ALL. He plans to get back to it full time, once he's fully recovered. Better known as Cadet Airman First Class in the Kaiser JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps) program, he can't wait to get back to all his friends. "I miss seeing my friends there. All of my friends are in it (JROTC)."
The Future
Kitamura hopes to return to Kaiser High School and join his fellow classmates on January 4, 2006. "I've been out of school so long I forgot what I miss the most." After high school, Kitamura plans to attend college in Hawaii, with aspirations of becoming a nurse. "I know how much nurses do for people, and I think it's something I'd be able to handle." Kellie Kitamura, Ryan's only sibling and best friend, is a freshman at Northwestern University studying to become a doctor. Ryan's mom quips fondly, "Everything she does, he wants to follow." Like every other best friend, she's a true inspiration. Ryan says, "I miss everything about her, she's my best friend."
Return To Familiar Territory
Now that Ryan is re-conquering his health, the Kitamura family is hoping to return to familiar grounds. Says Ryan, "It felt like nothing could ever bring us down again. A great weight was lifted off my family, and now we can all breathe much easier."
If you'd like to register to become a bone marrow donor, please call 547-6154.
What You May Not Know About RYAN
Full name:
Ryan Mark Kitamura
Family:
Father, Wesley; mother, Elaine; sister, Kellie
Favorite food:
"Chicken Katsu from Grace's"
Favorite movie:
"It's Battle of the Bulge (1965), although I don't know why!"
Favorite television show:
"I love to watch the history channel specials on World War II."
Favorite video game:
"Counter-Strike online"
Favorite subject:
"History, because of World War II, but if you go too far back it starts to bore me."
