Blog
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Saturday, March 20, 2010 - 5:05 pm
Continuing Michelle’s Legacy
From Melanie and the family:
WE NEED YOUR HELP
It’s been 8 months since Michelle left us and the pain is still raw. There is a huge emptiness inside me and I continue to grieve for what has happened. I hang on to so many of the moments I shared with Michelle, afraid as more time passes that I am leaving her behind.We continue to honor Michelle’s wishes and are focused on helping patients so that something positive can come from this horrible reality. My mom has been working hard with political leaders and the community to continue helping those in need of bone marrow transplants. In February, Senator Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, CA introduced Senate Bill 1304, the “Michelle Maykin Memorial Donation Protection Act,” that will allow private and public sector employees paid time off for organ or marrow donation. Donors would no longer have to worry about the financial burden of their gift. We know that this will ultimately lead to more registered donors and more lives saved.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
For SB 1304 to pass, it has to go through the legislative process. The next step is for the bill to go through the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee where it is reviewed and then voted up or down. The committee hearing will be held on April 14, 2010. Here is how you can help pass SB 1304 out of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee and move it to the next step of the legislative process:1) Sign our online petition to show the widespread community support for SB 1304.
Link for Online Petition2) Tell your friends and family to sign the petition
3) Fill the room at the Hearing on April 14 in Capitol Building (9:30 am in Room 2040)
4) Spread the word by emailing friends and family with the above message to get them involved. Log onto your favorite networking sites and ask everyone you know to sign the petition or send a letter of support:
Senator Mark DeSaulnier
State Capitol, Room 2054
Sacramento, CA 95814Passing this bill was something Michelle dreamed about and worried we couldn’t get done. We are now so close but we need you to succeed. With your help, we can save more lives and prevent families from having to go through what mine is struggling with everyday.
Thank you so much for all your support,
MelanieLink to pre-drafted letter to be signed:
Pre-Drafted LetterLink to detailed Senate Bill 1304:
SB 1304 Bill -
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 11:34 am
Services for this Saturday
Michelle’s main funeral service will begin at 1pm this Saturday 8/1 at Oak Hill Funeral Home in San Jose. We will be holding public, closed-casket visitation hours prior to the service beginning at 9:30am. Please see the schedule below for full details.
Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park
300 Curtner Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125Schedule of events:
9:30am – 1pm: Public closed-casket visitation
* 11am – 11:15am: Thai Buddhist Monk Chanting
* 11:15am – 12:15am: Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Chanting
1pm – 2:30pm: Public closed-casket funeral service
2:30pm: Procession to Crematory
3:30pm – 6:30pm: Reception at Roosevelt Community Center (901 E Santa Clara St
San Jose, CA 95116)Thank you for all of your condolences. We have received so many comments, emails, texts and calls that reinforce how special Michelle was to not just us, but everyone she touched. We look forward to celebrating Michelle’s life with all those who loved her.
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Monday, July 27, 2009 - 10:10 am
Celebrating Michelle’s life
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 94536-1563We would like to thank Mr. Maykin, the Fremont Temple and the Thai community for holding these very special services.
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Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 5:52 pm
Michelle is in peace.
(Update from Mabel)
Surrounded by Van, her family and close friends, Michelle left us this morning at 2:08am.
Despite the tightness in her chest and difficulty breathing, Michelle still cracked jokes and put smiles on our faces until the very end. Always putting others before herself, her final wish was for us to love and care for one another. After so many setbacks and so much pain, she was finally able to close her eyes and find the relief that she could never attain during the past two years.
Words can’t express how proud we are of Michelle and all that she has accomplished during her short lifetime. She fought so hard—not just for herself, but for her family, friends and countless others who faced the same struggles. She shared her story candidly with the world in order to empower patients with more resources and to spread her message of hope.
Before her cough and infection became severe, we were fortunate enough to enjoy a weekend in Carmel with Michelle. The home we stayed at was beautifully secluded on a forested hill and provided us with amazing views of the Pacific coastline. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect setting to share in laughter, memories and unspoken goodbyes.
Our good friend Hung created a slideshow of our Carmel getaway, which Michelle wanted us to share on the blog:
Thank you to everyone for your endless love and support.
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The Fremont Buddhist Thai Temple will be holding a special Buddhist prayer ceremony in honor of Michelle tomorrow, Sunday 7/26 at 7pm. Please feel free to attend:
Buddhanusorn Thai Temple
36054 Niles Blvd
Fremont, CA 94536-1563The actual funeral proceedings will be held this coming Saturday 8/1 in San Jose. Details will be posted shortly.
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009 - 2:58 pm
A Silver Lining
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.
