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Police captain
grateful to anonymous
marrow donor

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Alvin Nishimura doesn't know who it is, but he thinks every day about the person who gave him a chance to live.

"I really hope I get a chance to meet that person," Nishimura said of the donor who supplied the bone marrow for his May 30 transplant at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif.

"For some reason, I feel like it came from Hawaii," added the 50-year-old Honolulu police captain who can find out the donor's name after a one-year waiting period.

Nishimura needed the transplant to rebuild his immune system, which was rendered defenseless by acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

There's a critical 100-day observation period following a transplant and today is Nishimura's 15th day in the isolation room.

"It comes and goes," he said of the nausea. "I've been watching a lot of movies and reading golf magazines.

"A friend of mine is putting together a canoe-racing video," added Nishimura, who paddled for the Lokahi club. "I really miss paddling."

Nishimura is thankful for the continuing support of family and friends in Hawaii.

"I didn't realize I had so many friends and it's something I will always cherish," he said. "I've very thankful for their calls, cards and prayers."

Cynthia Yip Nishimura said her husband is in good spirits.

"In about a week, the doctors expect to see new marrow start to grow and we'll start seeing a count then," she said. "Right now, he can't leave the room at all but his spirit is good."