Kiyomatsu Tsuha was born on Jan. 4, 1911 on the island of Kauai in Hawaii and worked most of his life at the Del Monte (CPC) Distillery Division as a mechanic. Until her death in 1982, Kiyo was married to Grace and has 6 children, 12 grandchildren and 4 grt-grandchildren. Physically strong, he had a broken leg when he was hit by a car in 1954. In another car accident in 1972, a car slammed into his parked car as he was retrieving equipment from the front seat dragging him 10 ft. causing him head and body injuries. This led to an early retirement. At 66 years of age, he had a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was a smoker who quit in his early fifties and had prostate surgery in his 70's. He is 89 years old now and suffers from memory loss. Always in good spirits, Kiyo is a jovial, kind, outgoing, well liked guy. He never had high blood pressure and he doesn't take any prescribed drugs. He is physically mobile and pain free. He continually thanks God for all his blessings.
My father, Kiyomatsu, suffered a ruptured AAA while fishing from a skiff in the early AM hours out of a Honolulu Harbor. He was in terrible pain and went to Emergency. He was 66 years old and it was in 1977, when he had experimental surgery and had a plastic tubing inserted. He lost a lot of blood and had a 50/50 chance for survival. He is now 89 years old and has lived for 23 years in relative good physical health, though his mind is weakening because of dementia and loss of short term memory.
About a year ago, he fainted when he was at a park with my brother and it was thought he had overexerted himself. Twice in the last 10 days, he has walked out of the home and about a mile away, seemed to have fainted again, fallen and hurt himself. ( 6 stitches at the side of his right eye, bruised knees and a broken finger.) Subsequent tests reveal an aneurysm of about 6 cm. However, the doctors feel at his age and mental condition, surgery would be too risky.
We are indebted to his surgeon, Dr. Izawa and his primary physician, Dr. Kuge of Honolulu, Hi. However, this aneurysm is like a time bomb and we are aware that my dad may go at anytime.
We are grateful for his surviving AAA surgery for 23 years and I wanted others to know of this.
Update: 27 Oct 2002
My dad lived to 91 years of age after having AAA surgery in 1977. He had a second one developing in the same area about 5 cm in size. The doctors found it a couple of years ago and predicted that if it did burst, he'd have excruciating pain then it would be over. Thanks be to God, he died peaceably in his sleep this May. All of you out there, have courage.
He thanked God everyday for all his blessings. Peace be with you all.