3.18.2023

July 18, 2006 Friends Gathering at Young House

(it's Anne L. here writing at Danna's request.)

Mike died today at 11:20 am.

Danna would like all their incredible friends and loved ones to know that everyone is invited to join together at the house all afternoon and evening. Children are welcome. She plans to turn on the sprinkler to run around in, and we'll all roast outside and remember our dear friend Mike.

There will not be a traditional funeral. Instead, Danna will have a celebration of Mike's life in a few weeks. She will post more tonight on this.


54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Danna and Baxter--All of the PT/OT staff @ JHN express our sympathies! You and Mike were so brave and inspiring. You guys were the model for "grace under pressure". We will miss Mike's beautiful smile and the colorful blankets and NPR on the radio! You, Bax and Mike will be in our thoughts and prayers!

Anonymous said...

Danna.

I would love to join you, your family and loved ones under the sprinklers but I'm on my way to a call night at Magee. Tonight is dedicated to Mike, wherever we are. Give me a call when things start to settle down and we'll talk and get together.

Georgia

Anonymous said...

And can it be
that in a world so full and busy
the loss of one weak creature,
makes a void in any heart,
so wide and deep
that nothing...
but the width and depth
of vast eternity can fill it up.

-Charles Dickens

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry, Danna and everyone else that I won't be able to be with you tonight. All of our thoughts and love are with you from Wyoming. Little Randy and I will be back on Thursday and will hopefully see you soon.

I was awake much of the night last night thinking of you all and thinking of Mike. The story that formed in my mind about Mike was the night he called me in 1999 to invite me to join ComedySportz. It is still the best phone call I've ever received and, I think, phone calls that Mike really liked to make. What I thought about last night was that Mike also made the calls to the people who were not invited to join CSZ. And it really stuck with me - that Mike took on "the bad" as well as savoring all the good - and, damn, that man had himself a good life. There is no better example of how to live.

Anonymous said...

Danna and Baxter
There are no sufficient words, just feelings of great saddness.
Love
Robin

Anonymous said...

Danna,
I'm so sorry to hear the news.
Love.
Xiaoxia

Anonymous said...

Danna,

We are so sad. Email seems suddenly cold – we wish we could give you a hug. When things have settled down, if you and Bax want to have a change of scenery for a little while, we’d love to have you stay with us in Buenos Aires.

Mike was one of the good ones.

Love,
Matt, Chara, Zev, and Scarlett

Anonymous said...

There are no words to describe my saddness, Danna. My heart aches for you, and I am so so sorry for all the emotional ups and downs you've had to endure. i find myself recalling the day you sat matt and me down in your office, and you told us the news about the discovery of mike's tumor. we all cried, and then you said that you just had to confront the pain of the worst case scenario, and remind yourself that you would be able to find a way to survive. i'm so amazed by how even in the midst of great uncertainty and saddness, you've always shown such incredible strength. You have been a tireless and loving advocate for mike these past months, and you've done us all proud. there are so many people who care deeply about you, and i know you and bax will be in everyone's hearts. i'm sending you all of my love from england.

xo, nicole

Anonymous said...

Dear Dana,You are an incredible woman and my thoughts are with you and Bax. So sorry for losing your husband, bestfriend, soulmate and daddy to Bax. I will say a prayer for a long time for you and Bax. Someone of the many people that cared for Mike at J.H.N.

Anonymous said...

Danna,
Our hearts and thoughts are with you and Baxter tonight.
Steiner, Dan, Addison

Anonymous said...

You haven't left my thoughts each day for a very long time now. I am so very sorry for you, and for Baxter. I am thinking of you now, and hoping soon you come to New Hampshire where I can deliver a heartfelt hug in person.

Janice

Anonymous said...

Dear Danna- You don't know me, but I am a member of the craniopharyngioma support group. Ever since your first posting to the group, I have been following your postings and praying for Mike. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Through these postings, I have learned just how wonderful Mike was...he was a gift. I have also come to admire you. Only we cranio patients and/or caregivers of cranio patients can truly relate to that roller coaster ride that you have been on. I have been on that same ride with my beautiful daughter Kayleigh. May you find peace in the days, weeks and month ahead. You are a warrior and I am thankful that we cranio people have you on our side, to fight the fight.

Lisa
Mom to Kayleigh

Anonymous said...

Danna and Family - I am so deeply sorry for the loss of such a magnificent soul...

Amy Block

Anonymous said...

I remember the first day i met Mike Young at JHN room 6604B. It was one of my first shifts there. I walked in, went up to Mike and introduced myself. I asked him a few questions, how he slept and he answered them all with his eyes closed. As I turned to leave, I looked up at the wall directly facing his bed and stood there for five minutes or so. I couldn't seem to pull myself away from the pictures, cards and drawings from precious Baxter. I knew right then and there Mike was a good guy. Later that day I had the pleasure of meeting Danna, who told me all about Mike and their life together. I became sad in an instant that something like this had happened to such great loving people. As the day went on, I realized how GREAT they were together(even now during this difficult time) They joked and giggled and I prayed they would get through this. I cried so hard today and for so long when I read Mike had passed on. Danna, I don't know if you realize how many lives you guys have touched, including my own. I will never forget Mike, you or Baxter. There will always be a special place in my heart for you guys. I'm so so sorry for your loss.
MR

Anonymous said...

Dear Danna

Selfishly, I can't tell you how glad I am that I got to meet Mike ... and you ... and Baxter. I feel like I was touched by someone and something exceedingly special. Thank you ... god bless.

Emily Askin

Anonymous said...

Dear Danna and Baxter-
Just wanted you to know that we are thinking about you. We are so sorry to hear the news about Mike. We're sending you our love and support!
Love,
Em, Tim, and Zack Jones

Anonymous said...

I too wanted to express my sorrow as another person from the periphery who has been hanging on every word of this blog for the past few months. In fact, Mike and I have never met. I know Danna from our time together at Annenberg; when we had completed the MA program, I left for DC and now Missouri and thus have not been in touch.

At first, I wondered if it was really fair for a person who doesn’t know you that well to peep through the electronic window into your life into the grief you have been experiencing, while I myself could so easily walk away from the computer to resume my own. But I think now that this story as told on the blog has been about something much more important than that, something that seems to reveal glimpses of that ever-elusive meaning of life and what really matters. Because while nothing can dilute this tragedy, this story has been at core much less about what has been lost and more about what you two have had together and who you are.

In a world that’s often cynical, it’s hard to find words that aren’t trite to express how beautiful it is to read about true love. Your feelings for each other seem so radiant and their power seems to leap out from everything you write here, and the incredible support from your friends and family is a force to behold. These things may not have been enough to will the damn SFT away, but yet somehow they seem to overpower and transcend the corporal and evoke a deep and true compassion for all suffering. And as many people have posted, to meet such adversity with such grace, f*cked up or no, is something all of us can only hope to ever muster. I too am a devout secularist, but I think that if there ever was something that helped me to understand the concept of “God,” not so much as a religious arbiter but as a sense of profound love, I think that this would be it.

So while I know that can’t offer any fond memories, I just wanted to say that I share some small part of your grief and am ever-thankful for the wisdom your strength and courage has brought to me.

Thinking of you today,
Brown

Anonymous said...

Dear Danna,

I am so very sorry for your loss, and please know that you and Baxter are in my thoughts and prayers. You are a strong, admirable woman.

Best,
Emily Papir

Anonymous said...

So hurry, sundown.
Be on your way.
And hurry me a sunup
From this beat-up, sundown day.

Danna and Bax -
Your soon-to-be new family at the University of Delaware offer our sincere condolences. This was a tough and unexpected fight, for all of you.
Sadly, I only met Mike once, in the hospital, so I didn't know him they way you knew him. It's nice to know he brought you both so much love.
Sincere best wishes,
Ralph B.

Unknown said...

Salut Dana,

J'espère que tu vas bien....
C'est Thierry de France...

Well lets continue in english.
I was searching for Nicoles email
adress or phone-number. I saw the
photo of You Dana, with You're baby and I knew I was right here.
How are You going...You and Nicole, are You stil Friends...
I'm very sorry about the story I read on this blog....
Here's my email : postmaster@art-thix.com
Here's my web-site :
http://www.art-thix.com/
http://www.vuenocturne.fr/

I would be realy glad, if I could get some news from You, and may be You can help me out with Nicole's em.adr. or phone.num.

Best regards..
T.T.

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Il semble que vous soyez un expert dans ce domaine, vos remarques sont tres interessantes, merci.

- Daniel

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