| Notes |
- Young Michael Linders Brought People Together
By Carole Beers
Seattle Times Staff Reporter
In trying to carry on an ordinary childhood despite his six-year struggle with leukemia, 8-year-old Michael Linders lived an extraordinary life and brought a lot of people together.
Many people who helped send him to Disneyland, or arrange for him to attend a Seahawk practice or toss a pitch at a Mariner game, had been strangers. They were teachers at Bothell's Shelton View Elementary School, where Michael was in third grade, worshipers at Northshore Baptist Church, or neighbors.
But each approached Michael's parents, Mark and Sheryl Linders, with the same idea: Let's do special things for this gutsy kid who has had years of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, yet refuses to be left out of life.
Michael was buried yesterday. He lost his battle with leukemia Sunday (Sept. 5).
He will be remembered during a service at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Northshore Baptist Church, 10301 N.E. 145th St., Bothell, (ZIP: 98011) where memorial donations may be sent.
"It was his tender age, his long struggle, and he had just a real sweet way about him that touched people," said his mother. "But it says a tremendous thing about members of our community and church, who opened their hearts with love to someone who could not give back in the way they gave."
In April, the community sent Michael and his family to Disneyland. He bought a stuffed elephant and carried it wherever he went.
"It became a symbol of the strong love and compassion of our church and community," said his mother.
In May, a family friend who is a police officer came to Michael's home with patrol cars and Snohomish and King county law-enforcement officers. They made Michael "Sheriff for a Day."
Last September, other friends arranged for Michael to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Mariner game in the Kingdome.
He also spent a half-day watching the Seahawks practice. His adult friend, Mike McGinnis, arranged for him to meet former head coach Dennis Erickson and former Seahawk quarterbacks Warren Moon and Jim Zorn.
A kindergarten teacher took Michael to lunch often and let the boy pretend-drive his Corvette. Also a driving instructor, the teacher got Michael an honorary driver's license.
On Aug. 29, Michael chose to be baptized in his church. He took comfort believing he would see Jesus before his family members did.
The boy also just liked to hang out and watch his brothers Jonathan, 10, and David, 12, and their friends skateboard and play sports.
"We'd take him out to do stuff," said Corey Hansen, a friend of David's. "He was . . . always happy and joking."
Diagnosed with leukemia in 1993, Michael had three years of chemotherapy. In 1997, he got a bone-marrow transplant from Jonathan. It looked like Michael had beaten the leukemia.
It reappeared this spring.
"In a time when people seem isolated and doing their own thing, it's incredible to see how everyone rallied around to support Michael and his family," said Shelton View Principal Gary Shelly. "The kindness, compassion and dignity shown by Michael and his brothers was a great lesson. So often in schools, the lessons are from adults. This time, the lessons were from the children."
Copyright (c) 1999 Seattle Times Company, All Rights Reserved.
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1991 - 1999 (8 years)