Thank you to everyone for the outpouring of love that we have received since Michelle’s passing. Seeing the number of people that hold Michelle so close to their hearts provides a lot of comfort during these difficult days.
Yesterday marked the first night of ceremonies at the Fremont Thai temple, where Michelle spent all of her weekends practicing dance, making friendships, creating memories and maturing into a young woman. It was a beautiful service, and it was incredibly touching to see the faces of so many people who loved and supported Michelle. As the temple monks let out deep and melodic chants, their reverberations of prayer cast a peaceful sense of calmness over all of us.
There will be two additional nights of prayer today and tomorrow (7/27 and 7/28) at 7:30pm. Again, please feel free to attend regardless of your religious denomination:
Buddhanusorn Thai Temple
36054 Niles Blvd
Fremont, CA 94536-1563
We would like to thank Mr. Maykin, the Fremont Temple and the Thai community for holding these very special services.
18 responses so far ↓
1 Myling // Jul 27, 2009 at 10:57 am
Love and miss you lots, Michelle.
2 Lam Nguyen // Jul 27, 2009 at 11:13 am
Van, thank you for answering my email. For the last couple weeks I checked Michelle’s blog at least 3 times a day, hoping to read some good news. But after 2 weeks I didn’t see anything, I started to get worried. My heart sank when I saw the title of the blog this Saturday. Being An AML transplant survivor I fear of hearing someone with the same disease passed. I was praying for the Eastern medicines to do some miracles for Michelle, although I did not have faith in it. Van my deepest condolences go out to you and Michelle’s family. She will rest in peace and you hang in there.
Lam-Albuquerque.NM
3 Wenda "Jello" Lee // Jul 27, 2009 at 12:18 pm
The HUGE attendance last night is a testament of those whom Michelle has touched, me included. It was a beautiful service and I appreciate the huge sense of community the Thai Temple has. Thanks to Van, the Maykin Family, Thai Temple, & close friends of Michelle for opening your hearts and prayer service to the public so we can offer our condolences and pay our respects to a VERY special person.
4 Team Haupt // Jul 27, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Dearest Michelle and Project Michelle family,
While we never had the chance to meet, your blog and story helped us so much when my brother was diagnosed with AML in March 2009. Project Michelle was an inspiration and helped us form Team Haupt where we’ve held nearly 30 drives in the last 3 weeks with the hopes that no one will have to hear the words that Michelle and Jonathan heard – that they need a transplant but that there is no match. Michelle’s spirit and profound strength was visible even through her website, and I know she has touched so many without even meeting them. Her legacy will live on and she will live on in the memories of all that knew and loved her and all the people she touched with her advocacy. I wish you comfort and peace.
5 Team Anh // Jul 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Van, and Michelle’s family,
We are very saddened by Michelle’s passing. Yours and Michelle’s efforts have made a difference in the lives of so many for generations to come. We honor Michelle’s life and continue in her efforts to get more Asians on the marrow registry.
Much love.
6 Frank // Jul 27, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Michelle, i prayed for you for the past few months and I know you are a true angel now. You made a big difference in my life.
I want to wish Van, Michelle’s mother and father, family and friends, courage, strength and peace.
My love has battled leukemia over the past 2 years and she is now much better. I am very lucky to have her with me.
I am sure Michelle will be taking care of Van and her family from above.
7 Anonymous // Jul 28, 2009 at 11:56 am
e’ve never met. But I registered to be a Bone Marrow Donor because of Michelle’s Blog.
The love and support that you all provided for each other…that was inspiring and was what I looked forward to reading about on a very regular basis.
Michelle is definitely watching over you all.
8 l // Jul 28, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I’ve never met Michelle, but she’s touched me so much with her story and of course, to so many others. I wish I knew her, because I know she was a fantastic person. My prayers to Michelle’s family and friends.
9 Julie Nguyen, MD // Jul 28, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Dear Van and Michelle’s family,
I am greatly saddened to hear of Michelle’s passing. She fought a courageous battle with leukemia and was an INSPIRATION to all of us. She will live on in my heart and many others who have taken this cause to raise bone marrow awareness in our community to a high level. I have been honored to have known her and will strive to carry on her cause so that her death will not be in vain.
May God bless you and your family and may her BEAUTIFUL soul rest in eternal peace. Love transcends time and her SPIRIT lives within all of us forever. What a beautiful and inspiring person she was…
10 Manda // Jul 28, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I have read Michelle’s blog for over a year now. I’ve never commented before and feared I would read these words one day. She is at peace and among other angels. I too registered to become a bone marrow donor because of Michelle and her blog. She is an inspiration…and will live on through so many people AROUND THE WORLD.
11 Charles in LA // Jul 28, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Wow, I just read these recent updates. I’m very sorry to hear of Michelle’s passing, but I am sure she is in a better place now. Through all of her struggles, Michelle has helped save many lives and provided countless inspirations for everyone. Thank you Michelle for giving me new hope for everything around me. Have fun and take a long break where ever you are, because you deserve it!
12 Bich Lien Nguyen // Jul 28, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Dear chi Hoang Mong Thu, Van and Michelle’s family
You do not know me since I missed the chance of meeting chi Thu when you came down to Bolsa. However, I have been praying for Michelle since i knew of her plight. I can share somewhat with you emotionally since my 19 year-old son, also a Cal’s student, was recently diagnosed with leukemia; but I definitely cannot imagine you grief at this moment. Please know that even though I never met Michelle, I can feel her goodness shining through her picture. She is my inspiration to fight on. I am helping Vietmarrow to spread the words through the Vietnamese community of our eed for mamy many more donors. It was too late for Michelle,but I hope it may save another young life. Please accept my deepest condolences.
13 Michelle in Canada // Jul 29, 2009 at 5:15 am
I’ve been a follower of this blog for over a year now. I’m so sorry to hear of Michelle’s passing. She has unknowingly touched the lives of so many all over the world. She has been a source of inspiration. All the best.
14 Sumyra in CA // Jul 29, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Like Michelle in Canada, I have also been a follower of this blog for a long time and she has definitely touched many lives with her life. I am so sorry to hear of her passing.
15 khang,Le // Aug 3, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Hi! each and everyone,
this is Michelles Younger,Younger cousin
From behalf of my self
our family and Michelles
Husband Van i found
that, everyone which
has a thing or
two incommon
with these Blogs
and thank you for
you’re kind words
of Hope.dedication.
determination.
The fight to keep
Michelle’s message
alive. I Just
wanted to let you
know, now that Michelle
has touched my life
In many many ways
You don’t even know
not evn having met her
the first time,
I signed up on the
spot to become a Bone Marrow doner
Not knowing,that
few month’s down
the line she’d be
My cousin-in-law
now, that’s a gift i would Never Never forget.
I think the lord
which took two people
i dearly lovd and
didn’t really let go out of my site
the entire time,
Until i lost my footing once or twice
in this life journey
through knowledge and
courage and time’s of difficulty i’ve
been through a lot growing up, as a kid
But i nevr never once
gave up hope for
a brightr day.
B/c of Michelles
Mission in lif,
I chose to push on
and keep coming back
bigger and better.
Although, i might not
have too much undr
my belt in life,..
I still have a heart. i Have feelings like each and evryone else
from all walk’s of life. I Myself have the privildge and honor of being Van’s cousin, I am seriously and Honored to have him,
Be a cousin to me.
for while, now.
Honestly Van where evr you are,
You hold on and if You should need a Mentor to look up to..
You can always come to mine’s and Myself I will promise you that i wil not give up
the drive,determination and fight for far far far more then what i can become.
I will keep michelle’s dreams and message alive.
I know, she’s looking down on all of us now, is the time when most people
Need more and want more.Le’ts prove that in lif, there is no such thing as passing there’s only Living a great life, doing what you love and dying for
others’ And not just
thinking about Money, Business and
Worrysum..people
I mean people should understand,
in ordr to have a lif you want You must give in order to
become successful.
I now, understand
michelle more then
evr michelle is soemone who has touched so many
lives not knowing her even people still
get out there and do it for her, and to keep hr mssage alive now, that’s dedication.
16 dang ooppapan // Aug 3, 2009 at 9:13 pm
R.I.P. Michelle. You made your family, Thai and Vietnamese community very proud and we will forever have you in our hearts, we love you.
17 Jessica Fleming // Aug 18, 2009 at 9:04 am
I know the pain of losing someone to cancer and watching someone with cancer. I lost my sister to leukiema when she was only 28 years old. I was almost 4 years old. I am now 25. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think my sister. I know that she and now Michelle are both at peace in Heaven. God Bless you Michelle and God Bless you Carol.
18 Duc Quynh // Feb 21, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Michelle been gone for awhile but I still can not believe she was gone. I will remember her for the rest of my life such a true fighter till the end Michelle is always my hero . Miss you very much Michelle
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