Darren Araki was visiting his wife, Janell, who was in the hospital with complications from a rare kidney-related disease, when he began having symptoms of a stroke.

“;I was lucky enough to be in the hospital, and I was admitted,”; he said.

Araki's stroke last October put an added burden on a family that has suffered since early last year with Janell's diagnosis of calciphylaxis, which occurs when calcium deposits build up in small blood vessels in the skin. It causes painful skin ulcers, serious infections and organ failure.

Janell Araki, 39, owner of Precision Sound, a Honolulu company that provides sound systems for hotels and businesses, has type 1 diabetes and has been on dialysis three times a week since her kidneys failed in November 2008.

She has been hospitalized four times since being diagnosed with calciphylaxis, said Darren Araki, 40.

The ring finger on her right hand, the big toe on her left foot and one-third of her right foot with all her toes have been amputated, he said.

Despite health insurance, the couple has mounting bills for emergency services and medical expenses. With help, they have been able to reduce the total to $30,000 from about $50,000, Araki said.

Janell, who is in a wheelchair, is undergoing wound care because the site of the partial foot amputation has not healed in five or six months, he said. Their daughter Jayna, 15, and his parents are helping with care, he said.

Dr. James Wong, blood vessel surgeon at Straub Clinic & Hospital, diagnosed Janell's rare disease and has become the Arakis' family physician and friend. He said he is trying to get a group together from the hospital to attend a fundraiser for the couple Sunday.

“;Janell has gained a little weight and is looking a little healthier,”; he said. “;Her wounds are starting to heal.”; He said she gets depressed once in a while, but “;she's being very positive.”;

She still has diabetes and kidney issues, he said, “;but as far as the calciphylaxis, it looks like she is slowly responding to the medications she is getting and all the wound care provided.”;

A large ulcer on Janell's right leg has almost healed after a little more than a year, he said.

Wong said he was talking to Darren Araki in his wife's room at Straub last fall when he began having “;neurologic changes”; and did not feel well. “;I said, 'We'd better get you evaluated,'”; Wong said.

Araki said his wife and Wong urged him to go to the emergency room. Wong called ER and made arrangements for an examination.

“;I was lucky enough that I didn't have it (a stroke) instantaneously,”; Araki said, explaining several CAT scans were done “;before it showed up”; and he could not move his left arm.

“;I was there about a week, and she (Janell) was there six weeks and I became her neighbor,”; Araki said.

“;The whole Straub network has pulled behind Janell, even putting her in the same room whenever she's admitted. I make a joke and say that's our time-share unit at Straub.”;

He said he still has some weakness on his left side and some equilibrium problems but is trying to help Janell run her business, and friends and family members help out.

“;We got tossed into a storm,”; he said. But he said his wife “;has a lot of faith. ... Without her fighting personality I don't think she would have been able to make it. But she has a strong mind and strong will to survive.”;