Kakko’s message
Message by Toshiya Miyata - "My case is not a miracle."
Motion picture of Miyapu (Toshiya Miyata)
Kakko’s message
It was February 20th, 2009 when Mr. Toshiya Miyata had the brainstem hemorrhage. The children loved him and everyone called him “Miyapu” at school. I had known him for 5 years and for those years he had given me lots of help and support. He taught me how to use computer and even took me to venues when I had to give a public speech as I had no sense of direction!
On the day he collapsed, the doctor said to me,” I am sorry to tell you but he will be unresponsive and quadriplegic for the rest of his life.”
His younger sister was the only family who could stay beside him but she had a newborn baby, so I said to her, ”I will come to the hospital to see him every day after school, I promise.”
The children who I have met through school had already shown me how resilient the brain was. So, I knew Miyapu was listening, being able to see and understanding everything. I was sure that talking to him constantly, giving lots of stimulation through eyes, ears, hands, legs, feet and mouth and keeping him upright would improve his condition.
Katsuko Yamamoto
Message by Toshiya Miyata - "My case is not a miracle."
My name is Toshiya Miyata.
I was a teacher at the school for children with special needs.
I had a brainstem hemorrhage in February, 2009. The doctor told Kakko-chan (Ms. Katsuko Yamamoto who was my colleague) about the serious medical condition that can often lead to coma and death. But for some reason Kakko-chan said “He will be all right”.
I was recovering, thanks to the huge support I had from everyone including the staff at the hospital, friends and family. Yet the doctor didn’t think I’d ever regain consciousness. Kakko-chan still didn’t doubt the fact that I was conscious and knew everything that was going on around me. We tried many different things and ways to communicate. And gradually, we found some ways to do so by using communicating devices and customized switches.
I was never an extrovert, but the experienced of not being able to communicate was petrifying. When I didn’t have a measure to tell people about how I was feeling, thinking or what I wanted, I felt as if I was an invisible man. I even couldn’t ask people to change my position on bed. You can hardly imagine how hopeless I was. I felt as if I didn’t even exist.
My current goal is to be able to move freely. Fortunately, thanks to Kakko-chan who has helped me with my intense rehabilitation, I am recovering day by day. What I have learnt through those days is how important it is to be able to tell each other how you feel and think.
You may come across someone who is unresponsive and unable to communicate, but that may not be the case. They may still be conscious! Well, it is not “may be”….. they are. They still have feelings and thoughts just as you do.
If you have a family member, a friend or an acquaintance in the same situation, please try to talk to the person.
And when you feel their thoughts, please try every method you can to understand what they feel and think.
My case is not a miracle.
It is not an exception.
I aspire to let the world know that everyone, without an exception, have feelings and thoughts even if they may not seem to have any. They just need to communicate differently.
I am committed to do my best to show you all that this is true and strongly hope that one day everyone will be aware.
I will do my best everyday as a member of the ‘Snow White project.’ I would be happy if you can support us to make this happen.
Thank you so much for listening.
Toshiya Miyata April 2012
Motion picture of Miyapu (Toshiya Miyata)
“Thank you” the first trailer of documentary of Miyapu Ver2.1
To use alphabet table
“I wish to express my thoughts.” the second trailer of documentary of Miyapu Ver1.3
“Don’t give up!” the third trailer of documentary of Miyapu Ver1.0
You can find updated information regarding Miyapu on facebook page “Snow White project.” Please vote “Like it.”
facebook page “Snow White project.”
http://www.facebook.com/shirayukihime.project
Profile
Born in 1967. After graduating from Fukui University, he started teaching at the special-needs school where he met Katsuko Yamamoto. He started supporting her activities until one day on February 20, 2009 he collapsed from a brainstem hemorrhage. At first, he was told he only had three hours to live after that he had three days to live. However, after six months of rehabilitation and with the determination to recover, he started using "Let’s chat" (communication device) with his finger. With this he can now express his thoughts. At the present day he is still in hospital and continues rehabilitation exercise with Kakko and other friends. He has published a multi-authored book “I can say that full moon is beautiful” (Sangokan).
A photo in summer 2011
Just after the hemorrhage, the doctor said that he will never regain consciousness, but he has recovered up to the point where he rides a wheelchair.
Blog by Toshiya to using "Let’s chat"(communication device)
2009年2月20日に脳幹出血で倒れた宮ぷーは、倒れてから6ヶ月後、レッツチャットによって気持ちを伝えられるようになりました。意思伝達装置、レッツチャットに心から感謝し、そして、レッツチャットを応援しています。
http://ameblo.jp/miyapu-ohanashi/
