| You know how simple a life experience change | | | | constantly having fever and headaches. Although I |
| your life forever? | | | | did not know the size, color or shape of this |
| My older sister was 4 years old and I was only 2 | | | | mysterious "fever and headaches", I knew it |
| and half old at a time. The doctor was leaving our | | | | would be bad if I had it and I would have to stay |
| house and as he passed by me he mumbled: | | | | in bed all day, just like my sister. I remember |
| "There's nothing wrong with her." It was not the | | | | very clearly the moment when I decided to be |
| first time the doctor made a house call for her. | | | | free of a fever and headaches: "Whatever the |
| Every other week my sister was bed ridden with | | | | fever and headaches are I am not having them." |
| fever and headaches. My parents were very | | | | That moment changed my life. |
| concerned about her health: hence, she was | | | | Many years later, when I went back to Japan for |
| getting plenty of attention from them. This | | | | my father's funeral, the first thing my sister said |
| mysterious child fever and headaches was taking | | | | to me was "I am so sorry that I got all the |
| over her often. Sh was very sweet and gentle | | | | attention from dad when we were little." I was |
| indoors child. | | | | very surprised to hear her say that. My sister |
| I on the other hand was very much in tune with | | | | was not aware that it worked out perfectly for |
| nature, loved the outdoors and was fascinated | | | | both of us. I got to go outside and play, and most |
| with the change in nature. Every day my agenda | | | | of all I got away with many things parents never |
| was to go outside and play with whatever I | | | | approved for a girl to do. I would not trade that |
| would encounter that day. | | | | experience for anything else in the world, |
| The bugs, lizards, birds, caterpillars and worms | | | | especially knowing that freedom from fever and |
| you name it. This always kept me entertained and | | | | headaches are priceless to so many people who |
| I was a happy camper. Besides, often I got in | | | | suffer from it. Therefore, I am very grateful to |
| more troubled by staying indoors. Outdoors was | | | | my sister for that incident. |
| safer for me. | | | | Since she was sick very often my sister had to |
| I was known as the "strong energy child." I was a | | | | drop out of the kindergarten. |
| healthy and bratty tomboy with an attitude. | | | | You might wonder what happened to my sister's |
| "Strong energy child" was not considered a | | | | health. Since then she had 2 healthy boys and |
| compliment for a girl, since "man with guts, | | | | never had an illness in her life. Only psychosomatic |
| woman with charm" is a strong Japanese culture | | | | fever and headaches. |
| standard. Also, "disease comes from mind. we | | | | Such a simple life experience was powerful |
| make ourselves sick" was Japanese culture mind | | | | enough to change my decision making ability for |
| set which I grew up with. So I knew even then it | | | | life. So, now you know how to prevent |
| was my sister's choice to be in this condition, | | | | psychosomatic fever and headaches. |