Kandice Johns

UVSC respects each individual’s preferences regarding their privacy and confidentiality. We are incredibly grateful for their willingness to share their words and stories to offer hope to others, in whatever capacity they are comfortable with.

During my cancer journey, the pandemic happened, my 25 year marriage ended and Maui Fire happened. When everything felt like falling apart all at once, I felt devastated and didn’t know what to do with my diagnosis which was stage 4 breast cancer. As I faced my death, I really started facing my life… my journey to coming back to myself began. I didn’t focus on healing the disease, rather I focused on holding my values clearly than ever.  I’m from Hiroshima Japan, as a second generation of Atomic Bomb survivors. There is heavy karmic energy attached to cancers. I had to really think how I can use my life in that family lineage. I decided to embrace and be with cancer cells without any judgement. I love them just like the rest of my healthy cells. I focus on being my authentic myself. That’s the only thing I have been thinking through this journey. To live or die, I will do that in knowing and honoring who I am and what I am.

My life has clarity to enjoy myself fully while I have this beautiful body. I see myself the same with or without cancer. Which requires self love to override anything that I encounter. I fill my body and my field with my love without wanting anything from outside. So in the end, my journey has become my self-discipline and my prayer to honor my soul/ my being.  

I’m enjoying myself a lot and so grateful that I can feel my authenticity. I’ve been doing miraculously well. I’m very proud of myself of finding/honoring myself and having deep peace in the middle of unprecedented chaos around me. 

Much love and aloha

UVSC has assisted this beneficiary with out-of-pocket expenses related to alternative cancer treatments so she is able to manage her treatment plan and conditions in a way that works best for her.

Meet one of the UVSC’s youngest warriors,  Solomone Lewis, from Kahuku, O’ahu. He is 3-years old and is the youngest of five siblings. Diagnosed in June 2023, Solo is bravely battling high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia having recently undergone chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy* infusion. Juggling steady employment and caring for their other children while also managing to be by Solo’s side at the hospital has been challenging for Solo’s parents, William and Kolotina. UVSC has provided financial support to cover past due rent payments and ensure the Lewises can be with Solo and give him the best fighting chance as he continues treatment.

*Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a way to get immune cells called T cells (a type of white blood cell) to fight cancer by changing them in the lab so they can find and destroy cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy is also sometimes talked about as a type of cell-based gene therapy, because it involves altering the genes inside T cells to help them attack the cancer.

And for those who are experiencing hardships in their cancer journey… Know that there’s people willing to help. Continue to have hope and keep fighting.”

In addition to managing Danilo’s cancer, he and his wife experienced additional financial hardship as a result of the Lahaina fires when the farm they worked for cut back their hours due to lack of tourism. In addition, the couple was suddenly evicted from their residence due to their landlord being foreclosed on. They were able to find temporary lodging with other family members until securing another rental a few months ago, but are still struggling due to reliance on a partial single income while Danilo is in treatment. UVSC has been able to provide rental assistance to ensure that Danilo and his wife/caregiver have safe and stable housing as he continues his cancer treatment and recovery.

Meet UVSC Beneficiary, Eric. He is a single father of two teenage boys and is bravely battling Stage 3 colon cancer. After his family lost their home in the devastating Lahaina fires, he and his sons relocated to Kahului, but he is unable to work due to his medical condition and frequent doctor visits. Because English is not Eric’s primary language, his sons bravely take turns accompanying him to his doctor’s appointments to act as translators – oftentimes needing to miss school to do so. As he continues to navigate his cancer journey along with the challenges of finding permanent, affordable housing and caring for his sons, UVSC hopes to ease his family’s financial burden so he can continue to focus on healing, living and enjoying time with his sons.

During the August wildfires on Maui, about 40% of the people living in Lahaina were of Filipino descent and many of those do not speak English as their primary language. This adds further difficultly and complexity to accessing fire relief and assistance services, and government benefits. UVSC is fortunate to have strong partnerships with other community organizations, like Pacific Cancer Foundation, whose skilled cancer navigators have been able to assist us with language translation and outreach to the Filipino community.

Kosianjra is 18 years old and was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May 2023 as she was nearing completion of her senior year at Kamehameha Schools on Maui. Kosianjra was living with her mother, Tamara, and younger brother at the time. Shortly after that, the cost of rent was increased significantly by the family’s landlord forcing the family to move out and stay with friends temporarily until they could afford another place. During this time, Kosianjra began her cancer treatment at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children on O’ahu while her mom stayed at Ronald McDonald House and her brother was housed with other relatives on Maui. There is no pediatric cancer care available on Maui so Kosianjra must travel to O’ahu for all of her appointments, tests and treatments, which adds a significant amount of cost and physical/mental exhaustion to managing an already difficult situation.

In the August fires, the temporary housing where Kosianjra and her mom could stay when they were back on Maui in between treatments on O’ahu was burned, so they were placed at the Hyatt. Limited housing inventory has made it impossible to find rental housing on Maui that is affordable for a family of three on a single income – especially while Kosianjra and Tamara must regularly travel and spend extended, unknown amounts of time on O’ahu for her treatment regimen.

Many Maui Fire Relief programs have very narrowly defined qualification criteria, which has hindered Tamara’s ability to obtain housing and financial resources to support them during this challenging time. UVSC’s financial assistance has helped Kosianjra and Tamara relocate to O’ahu and obtain stable housing during Kosianjra’s ongoing treatment for the next six months.

Tamara has continued to maintain her employment by flying back and forth from O’ahu to Maui every few days, often working full day shifts and returning without sleep to be back at Kosianjra’s side while she bravely fights cancer. Recently, Tamara shared her story with American Cancer Society’s national leadership team to bring greater awareness to the experiences, issues, and challenges faced by the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Hawai’i that are facing cancer in the aftermath of the Maui fires. The strength, love, determination and resiliency of this family is nothing short of astonishing and UVSC is proud to support them.

March 2024 Update: Kosianjra is now receiving outpatient services and recently graduated. Congratulations Kosianjra!!

My name is Madoka Franklin. I am a wife and mother of two beautiful children and live in Lanai. I love my family very much and a “beach day” with them is my favorite thing to do.

My family went through medical issues in 2022 and I was their care giver. After my family members had recovered, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer when I had my annual mammogram in March 2023.

When I heard the news, my heart was broken because my kids are still young. Also, I was the main provider for our family and I didn’t know what to do with our finances.  I was scared and hopeless. I couldn’t eat or drink anything for couple of weeks, but I had to stand up and get ready to do whatever needed to be done for myself and family.

I had right breast mastectomy in May and chemotherapy in July. When I had chemotherapy, I had to stay on Oahu for three whole months. It was really hard for me being away from the family. I missed their first day of the school, my son’s birthday, basketball game and so on. Thankfully for technology, I was able to maintain my emotional health with daily video calls with them.

My next step is reconstruction surgery and hormonal therapy. I am slowly going back to a regular routine after this surgery, but I will do it a little bit different this time. I will slow down and take care of myself more and enjoy the present moment, especially time with family.

I am really thankful for UVSC with their assistance and also the people on Lanai’s loving support.