Check out photos of a card I received from AADP a few weeks ago. I can’t believe 4 patients have already received stem cell transplants because of our Project Michelle efforts. Note, that these stats are just from AADP. I bet other Project Michelle drives outside of the SF Bay Area have also had success. I would love to get a total count of the donors that registered at a Project Michelle drive that have donated their stem cells to save someone else’s life (I’m an auditor….we like numbers). I am so proud of all of the Project Michelle volunteers. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I’m doing pretty good (mentally and physically) if I don’t say so myself. My days are filled drinking all sorts of concoctions, doing hours of qi gong and praying. This is a full time job, but I think it’s good to keep myself busy. While I do have my moments of sadness, overall I feel calm and at peace. This morning I had a blood draw and as I was walking out of the parking garage there was a couple hugging and blocking the stairwell. Once they detached, I saw that the lady was pregnant and moaning. SHE WAS GOING INTO LABOR. The husband was very patient and encouraging. I offered to get them a wheelchair, but the preggers wanted to walk to the hospital entrance (WOW tough cookie). I said “Congrats!!!,” did some spirit fingers and went on my merry way. It was the neatest thing I have seen in a long time. I wish I could have seen the birth. I definitely felt the love. It totally made my day. I figure if I can still appreciate and enjoy moments like that, I’m still doing ok.
p.s. I have the best hubby in the world. This morning Nurse Sharee put it best when she said we’re like peanut butter and jelly. 
32 responses so far ↓
1 Hannah // Jul 8, 2009 at 5:28 pm
haha… is van the jelly because he’s more jiggly? :p
love you michelle! i’m glad to read this <3 continue to remember that i’m here for you along with thousands of your other supporters, and i truly believe you will pull through this!
2 Myling // Jul 8, 2009 at 9:09 pm
So great to hear you’re hanging in there :-
3 Linh // Jul 8, 2009 at 9:58 pm
what a coooool feel good card!!
4 Bryan C // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:35 am
Maybe the Nurse was referring to this video clip (FF to about 1 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_1rSm2MDM4
or if you’re a purist and prefer the original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8MDNFaGfT4
5 Anuj // Jul 9, 2009 at 7:18 am
4 / 15 / 110 (at the least, and likely far more) — that’s no joke.
not everyone in your position (not even close) becomes an inspiration. takes a certain kind of person for that.
proud to have a friend that can step up to that role!
6 Stacie Tamaki // Jul 9, 2009 at 10:49 am
MIchelle that is such great news about all of the people your drives have helped. I have to tell you that just reading that your drives had helped 3 other people when Tami was diagnosed this spring is part of why I so passionately embraced the donor program and the efforts of the recruitment groups to try to help Tami and others. To know that one person can make such a difference should be inspiring to all.
From now on when I see a peanut butter and jelly sandwich I will think of you and Van
*Hugs*
7 Stella // Jul 9, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Keep those spirit fingers coming!
8 Michelle Lin // Jul 9, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Hi Michelle, you are so brave, and your smile in the last post… stunning. I think your strength is just amazing. Praying for you, all the best wishes, Michelle
9 AMP // Jul 9, 2009 at 6:45 pm
i love pb&j! i want to see your card. it looks kewwwl. =op
10 Michelle // Jul 9, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Those are fantastic numbers, and you deserve all the kudos for your efforts!
As for your encounter with the pregnant woman, that was hilarious! They say walking helps the labor, maybe that’s why she insisted on walking (I think she was crazy not to use the wheelchair, though).
It seems as though you and Van are like PB&J. You are so fortunate to have a husband like your sweet Van
I wish you continued success on your treatments. You are an inspiration to all.
11 fjd // Jul 9, 2009 at 9:09 pm
It’s really awesome that the drives you and your friends organized are already helping people.
12 Leang // Jul 10, 2009 at 10:06 am
That’s the most awesome-est card!
Keep fighting and keep smiling!
13 Carol // Jul 12, 2009 at 1:09 am
Hi Michelle! You are definitely a hero! The card looks fabulous. I also wonder which of you is PB and which is J. Maybe it doesn’t matter since the two spreads go so well together and are inseparable when combined. That is so cute that you gave the woman spirit fingers. You’re a wonderful cheerleader to have! Your post really made me smile. Keep your happy thoughts going!
14 Grace // Jul 12, 2009 at 4:36 am
<3
15 Molasses Minds // Jul 13, 2009 at 7:45 am
PB & J,
Sending lots of love and positive energy your way. Thank you for creating Project Michelle.
Keep the faith!
16 Gem // Jul 13, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Michelle,
I can’t say better what everyone else has been saying on your blog. It takes a wise and incredibly resilient soul to take on the challenges you and your peanut butter (or jelly?) have faced together. My heart and prayer goes out to you and your loved ones –
P.S. We share a mutual friend, Tim, and I first learned about your story through him. I even had the pleasure of meeting your hubby at bay to breakers! You are an amazing couple…
17 Dennis Pyritz, RN // Jul 15, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Great blog! I added you to my blogroll, Cancer Blog Links at http://www.beingcancer.net
Take care, Dennis
18 Stacie Tamaki // Jul 15, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Keeping you in my prayers Michelle.
*Hugs*
19 Anonymous // Jul 16, 2009 at 11:06 am
Michelle,
Hope things are going ok? We haven’t seen any update from you in a while now…
20 Wenda "Jello" Lee // Jul 17, 2009 at 11:09 am
Hi Michelle,
So I’m happy Mabel & Co. had to do a much needed intervention on you and Leuk. I just finished reading “Tuesdays w/ Morrie” and thought about how he dealt w/ his disease. I see how positive the both of you are and I wouldn’t put it passed you to do something just as creative as he did. You’ve been emulating what he did already with your efforts with Project Michelle! BTW, it looks like my friend Crystal is going to be #5 on the AADP list of donors! Yay!
21 Crystal // Jul 17, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I love peanut butter and jelly
22 Amitha // Jul 18, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Hi Michelle,
Just wondering how you are doing. Wanted to let you know that you are a great inspiration for me =)
23 Your fan club // Jul 21, 2009 at 12:26 am
We love you Michelle!
24 A fan // Jul 21, 2009 at 5:52 am
Your website has been quiet for a while. Just wanted to let you know that so many of us are praying for you! You are an inspiration to many.
25 Anna Marie // Jul 21, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Hi Michelle – I’m in the Santa Ana, CA, Be The Match. I first learned about you when I started here in September. Shortly after that, I posted your link on my facebook & I found out a high school classmate, Shirley H., had helped at your drives in Berkeley. Small world.
Your impact is immeasurable. You have touched so many lives and empowered patients and families everywhere. You’ve also engaged the Asian American community in a way that some people probably thought impossible.
Though I only know you through your website, you are a sister in this movement to save lives. Thank you for moving us and inspiring us to act!
Much Love & Peace to you!
26 Stephanie // Jul 22, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Hey Michelle! You haven’t posted in awhile. I am hoping that you are feeling good and things are going well. Good Karma to you.
You are an amazing strong woman!
27 Courtney // Jul 23, 2009 at 1:35 am
Michelle,
I greatly admire your strength and generosity above all adversity. I can thank Project Michelle for my growing strife towards helping others. Thank you for showing us all what a true, selfless hero is.
Stay strong
) Your strength gives us strength as well.
<3
28 Another fan // Jul 23, 2009 at 1:55 am
Hi Michelle, your blog has been quiet for a while and I am getting worried. I want to pass along another piece of potentially helpful info /story I read about the other day –> liquid chlorophyll.
“A woman was dieing of blood cancer. Her doctor told her she had a few months to live and nothing could stop that. Well!! She refused to die. She started reading about everything about natural healing ways to cure herself. She ordered a case or 2 of liquid chlorophyll and drank the case pretty potent. Went back to her doctor and she had no blood cancer. This product cured her completely.” I found this on the web and I know you and Van are leaving no stones unturned.
29 Aditi Ananth // Jul 23, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Hurrah for a silver lining! You’re incredible. I’m praying for you every day. Eastern medicine rules. You’re totally going to get over this crap and you & Van will keep doing amazing things like this 10, 20, 30, 40 years from now. And inspire us all to do the same.
PS. spirit fingers!! That made me giggle. Spirit fingers to you too
30 Julie // Jul 24, 2009 at 9:02 am
Hope all is well, Michelle! xoxo
31 Neta-lee // Jul 25, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Hi Michelle, came across your site a while ago and have been following your fight ever since. Hope you’re in good spirits. Please update us when you have a chance.
32 RIP, Michelle Maykin. « theMaykazine // Jul 27, 2009 at 10:24 pm
[...] Maykin, “A Silver Lining,” July 8, [...]
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