Help Hiro get a heart transplant
Donation protected
UPDATE: This campaign is suspended due to recent events in Japan. Please read the latest update for details.
This campaign is for Hiro, the 2-year old son of my good friend Hajime Inamoto, who lives in Tsuchiura City, Japan. His son Hiro suffers from multiple congenital heart defects and is in desperate need of a pediatric heart transplant, which is nearly impossible to get in Japan. Therefore, they are trying to raise $2.6 million so that they can bring Hiro to Columbia University Medical Center in New York City to receive a transplant.
The Inamoto family is now working with the NYC-based charity Inspiration Bridge to manage their donations in the U.S.! Inspiration Bridge is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations made through this campaign are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Here is Hiro's story, as told by his parents:
(日本語訳は下にあります。)
Our son Hiro was born on November 9th, 2014. Immediately after birth, multiple congenital heart defects were discovered and Hiro had to be hospitalized to receive medical treatment at a local hospital. He was eventually diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), as well as left ventricular non-compaction (a disease which causes a hole in his heart, limiting its ability to pump blood properly). As a result of these conditions, at 2 months old, Hiro was transferred to the University of Tokyo Hospital to undergo surgery to narrow his pulmonary artery, in hopes of trying to reduce the stress on his heart.
Over the following year, we tried to see if his long-term condition could be improved via non-surgical medical treatments, but he kept needing to be hospitalized over and over again due to his poor condition.
Unfortunately, Hiro suffered heart failure again in August 2016, causing his prospects for non-surgical medical treatments to disappear. He then underwent surgery to install a pediatric auxiliary artificial heart (Berlin Heart EXCOR). Although his heart is now connected to the machine via a 2-meter tube that restricts him to the hospital room, it has allowed him to recover some of his mobility and activity.
.
However, this artificial heart is only a temporary measure. While Hiro is connected to the artificial heart, he is in constant danger of infection or blood clots which could lead to stroke or cerebral hemorrhage. At this point, the only way for Hiro to be able to live a normal life is to receive a heart transplant.
In 2010, Japan’s organ transplant law was revised to legalize organ transplantation for children, but over the past 6 years only 4 heart transplants have taken place. The prospects for Hiro to receive a successful heart transplant within Japan are extremely low. Therefore, in order to save Hiro’s life, we have made the decision to try to bring him to the United States to undergo heart transplant surgery.
Hiro's doctors from Tokyo University hospital have arranged for the Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in New York City to take on Hiro's case. Since he is connected to an auxiliary artificial heart, Hiro must be transported to CUMC from Japan via a special medical airplane and will be hospitalized there while waiting for a suitable transplant donor. The total cost for transportation, hospitalization, surgery, and follow-up treatment will exceed 2.5 million US dollars.
In order to save Hiro, we humbly ask for your support and help.
Hajime and Reiko Inamoto
------------------------------
Hajime and Reiko's friends in Japan have started a charity over there on behalf of Hiro, and their website can be viewed here: Save Hiro website
(mainly in Japanese, but also has an English, Korean, and Chinese page)
They began their fundraising efforts on December 22nd, 2016, and they hope to raise the necessary funds by the end of this April. We will continually update this page with the overall fundraising total.
Inspiration Bridge, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Learn more at our website or “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/inspirationbridgecharity .
Would you partner with us to help save Hiro?
両親からのお願い
ひろは生まれてすぐ、心臓に異常があることがわかりました。拡張型心筋症の疑いがあり、血液を全身に送り出すことが不十分なため、おっぱいを飲むときもはぁはぁと息が切れ、十分に飲むことができませんでした。その後、心臓の負担を減らすために、食事は鼻からの経管栄養に変わりましたが、嘔吐してしまうことも多く、片時も目が離せない、そんな状況が生まれてからずっと続いていました。
また、血管が細く点滴や採血が非常に困難なため、処置のたびに泣き叫び、汗まみれで顔面蒼白なひろの顔を見るのは本当につらいものでした。
それでも先生方や看護師さんの懸命な処置と心遣い、ひろのがんばりもあり入退院を繰り返しながらも１歳9ヶ月まできましたが、ひろの心臓の限界が近づいていることを知らされました。
悲しくて辛くて悩みましたが、ひろが日々弱っていくのを見ていることは耐えがたく、ひろの命を諦めたくないと、移植への道を決心しました。そして2016年8月に小児用の補助人工心臓を装着する手術をし、移植の待機リストにのせていただきました。
手術後は、食事も口から食べられるようになり、体重も増え、伝い歩きができるようになりました。しかし、体に装置を付け、2メートルほどのチューブで機械と繋がれているため、1日中ベッドの上での生活を余儀なくされています。唯一部屋から出られる時間は大好きなリハビリの30分ほどです。特別に、先生にお外に散歩に連れて行っていただいた時は、本当に楽しそうでした。その姿を見て、私たちはひろが元気になって外の世界の素晴らしさに触れさせてあげたいという願いをより強く抱くようになりました。
長男がひろと会ったのは、ひろが生まれて２か月近く経ってからです。それからも、ひろの付き添い入院のためずっと母親と離れて暮らすのは寂しくてつらいことのはずなのに、「僕、早く12歳になりたいな。そうすればひろくんにいつも会えるのに。」と涙を浮かべて話してくれました。感染症等予防のため、12歳未満は面会できないのですが弟のことをいつも心配し気遣ってくれる優しさとお兄ちゃんらしさを見て、私たちはあらためて家族一緒に過ごせるようになりたい、と願うようになりました。
日本での幼児の移植は機会が極度に限られており、補助人工心臓は常に感染症等のリスクがつきまとうという状況から、私たちは海外での移植を希望しました。しかし、それには非常に高額な費用がかかります。そこで、友人たちが「ひろくんを救う会」を結成してくださいました。
私たちの身勝手なお願いだとは重々承知しております。でも私たちはひろと共に生きていきたいのです。1日も早く家族で一緒に暮らしたいと心より願っております。どうか皆様の温かいご支援をよろしくお願い申し上げます。
稲本 創・麗子
ひろくんを救う会ウエブサイト
This campaign is for Hiro, the 2-year old son of my good friend Hajime Inamoto, who lives in Tsuchiura City, Japan. His son Hiro suffers from multiple congenital heart defects and is in desperate need of a pediatric heart transplant, which is nearly impossible to get in Japan. Therefore, they are trying to raise $2.6 million so that they can bring Hiro to Columbia University Medical Center in New York City to receive a transplant.
The Inamoto family is now working with the NYC-based charity Inspiration Bridge to manage their donations in the U.S.! Inspiration Bridge is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations made through this campaign are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Here is Hiro's story, as told by his parents:
(日本語訳は下にあります。)
Our son Hiro was born on November 9th, 2014. Immediately after birth, multiple congenital heart defects were discovered and Hiro had to be hospitalized to receive medical treatment at a local hospital. He was eventually diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), as well as left ventricular non-compaction (a disease which causes a hole in his heart, limiting its ability to pump blood properly). As a result of these conditions, at 2 months old, Hiro was transferred to the University of Tokyo Hospital to undergo surgery to narrow his pulmonary artery, in hopes of trying to reduce the stress on his heart.
Over the following year, we tried to see if his long-term condition could be improved via non-surgical medical treatments, but he kept needing to be hospitalized over and over again due to his poor condition.
Unfortunately, Hiro suffered heart failure again in August 2016, causing his prospects for non-surgical medical treatments to disappear. He then underwent surgery to install a pediatric auxiliary artificial heart (Berlin Heart EXCOR). Although his heart is now connected to the machine via a 2-meter tube that restricts him to the hospital room, it has allowed him to recover some of his mobility and activity.
.
However, this artificial heart is only a temporary measure. While Hiro is connected to the artificial heart, he is in constant danger of infection or blood clots which could lead to stroke or cerebral hemorrhage. At this point, the only way for Hiro to be able to live a normal life is to receive a heart transplant.
In 2010, Japan’s organ transplant law was revised to legalize organ transplantation for children, but over the past 6 years only 4 heart transplants have taken place. The prospects for Hiro to receive a successful heart transplant within Japan are extremely low. Therefore, in order to save Hiro’s life, we have made the decision to try to bring him to the United States to undergo heart transplant surgery.
Hiro's doctors from Tokyo University hospital have arranged for the Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in New York City to take on Hiro's case. Since he is connected to an auxiliary artificial heart, Hiro must be transported to CUMC from Japan via a special medical airplane and will be hospitalized there while waiting for a suitable transplant donor. The total cost for transportation, hospitalization, surgery, and follow-up treatment will exceed 2.5 million US dollars.
In order to save Hiro, we humbly ask for your support and help.
Hajime and Reiko Inamoto
------------------------------
Hajime and Reiko's friends in Japan have started a charity over there on behalf of Hiro, and their website can be viewed here: Save Hiro website
(mainly in Japanese, but also has an English, Korean, and Chinese page)
They began their fundraising efforts on December 22nd, 2016, and they hope to raise the necessary funds by the end of this April. We will continually update this page with the overall fundraising total.
Inspiration Bridge, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Learn more at our website or “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/inspirationbridgecharity .
Would you partner with us to help save Hiro?
両親からのお願い
ひろは生まれてすぐ、心臓に異常があることがわかりました。拡張型心筋症の疑いがあり、血液を全身に送り出すことが不十分なため、おっぱいを飲むときもはぁはぁと息が切れ、十分に飲むことができませんでした。その後、心臓の負担を減らすために、食事は鼻からの経管栄養に変わりましたが、嘔吐してしまうことも多く、片時も目が離せない、そんな状況が生まれてからずっと続いていました。
また、血管が細く点滴や採血が非常に困難なため、処置のたびに泣き叫び、汗まみれで顔面蒼白なひろの顔を見るのは本当につらいものでした。
それでも先生方や看護師さんの懸命な処置と心遣い、ひろのがんばりもあり入退院を繰り返しながらも１歳9ヶ月まできましたが、ひろの心臓の限界が近づいていることを知らされました。
悲しくて辛くて悩みましたが、ひろが日々弱っていくのを見ていることは耐えがたく、ひろの命を諦めたくないと、移植への道を決心しました。そして2016年8月に小児用の補助人工心臓を装着する手術をし、移植の待機リストにのせていただきました。
手術後は、食事も口から食べられるようになり、体重も増え、伝い歩きができるようになりました。しかし、体に装置を付け、2メートルほどのチューブで機械と繋がれているため、1日中ベッドの上での生活を余儀なくされています。唯一部屋から出られる時間は大好きなリハビリの30分ほどです。特別に、先生にお外に散歩に連れて行っていただいた時は、本当に楽しそうでした。その姿を見て、私たちはひろが元気になって外の世界の素晴らしさに触れさせてあげたいという願いをより強く抱くようになりました。
長男がひろと会ったのは、ひろが生まれて２か月近く経ってからです。それからも、ひろの付き添い入院のためずっと母親と離れて暮らすのは寂しくてつらいことのはずなのに、「僕、早く12歳になりたいな。そうすればひろくんにいつも会えるのに。」と涙を浮かべて話してくれました。感染症等予防のため、12歳未満は面会できないのですが弟のことをいつも心配し気遣ってくれる優しさとお兄ちゃんらしさを見て、私たちはあらためて家族一緒に過ごせるようになりたい、と願うようになりました。
日本での幼児の移植は機会が極度に限られており、補助人工心臓は常に感染症等のリスクがつきまとうという状況から、私たちは海外での移植を希望しました。しかし、それには非常に高額な費用がかかります。そこで、友人たちが「ひろくんを救う会」を結成してくださいました。
私たちの身勝手なお願いだとは重々承知しております。でも私たちはひろと共に生きていきたいのです。1日も早く家族で一緒に暮らしたいと心より願っております。どうか皆様の温かいご支援をよろしくお願い申し上げます。
稲本 創・麗子
ひろくんを救う会ウエブサイト
Organizer and beneficiary
Charles Chen
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Inspiration Bridge
Beneficiary