The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait

Newsletter Highlights: September 2010

September 28, 2010

Update on Joshua

We have an exciting update about Joshua, the 13 year old dot member who received the devastating diagnosis of Leukemia on the same day his family had tickets to see “This Is It.” Joshua has been fighting for his life since October 2009. His mother, Vera, has been keeping dot members updated on his progress. We have read about his surgeries, his struggles and his pains, offering our positive energy, prayers and healing power in support. Members of this community, from all over the world, came together to help Joshua. Words of encouragement were offered, gifts were sent to lift his spirit and a special dot was even placed next to Michael’s dot in the area of the heart.

Now we have a wonderful and exciting update from Vera about Joshua’s lab results:

“My dear friends!
The clinic called, telling us that at least at their place NO CANCER CELLS were found in Joshua's bone marrow! We are still awaiting the results from the main hospital in Hamburg (that can take up to a week) but things look good!

I'm sort of "speechless" right now so excuse the lack of words... I think it hasn't sunk in yet.

Thank GOD, thank YOU, thank MICHAEL, thank our ANGELS! For prayers, love, support and healing magic! We could not love you any more!

*L*O*V*E* Vera, John & Joshua xxx”

To read all the updates from Joshua’s mother, click here.

Spotlight Article

Voices Education: Changing the World, One Word at a Time

By Valerie - Through his music, Michael’s words reached millions of people. Imagine if together, we can help carry on his mission to heal this world by using the power of our words to better the lives of everyone. Imagine if we used our words to help bring love back into this world en masse. Can you feel it?

Imagine a curriculum, inspired by Michael and others including Princess Diana, which educates and exposes the consequences of violent words to children— now and for future generations.

Voices Education Project, a global humanitarian organization, has such a cirriculum: Words and Violence….Read More

Tribute Tidbits

Member Comments
I am honored to partake in this AMAZING tribute to my loved one. I will love you for all eternity Mike. I promise. I loved your heart. The little boy with the big voice became the man with the big heart. You had a way of bringing us all together. For that you are AMAZING!

I’m glad to be part of this amazing tribute .....Love you more Michael. God bless you, and thank you for being part of my heart and my life. I'll be there for you..... always!

I think this is a wonderful tribute for Michael. He would be so touched. I’m a long time fan and Michael. He is and will always be my everything. I miss him more and more each day. There will never ever be anyone like him again. He was a beautiful person inside and out. Thank You Michael. My forever Angel.

In Michael’s Words
"When you don’t have a childhood, like myself and other child stars, you try to compensate for the loss later on and you try to catch up; but what I like to do is help other children who are less fortunate than I am. You know, kids who are terminally ill, kids who have diseases, poor children." – Michael Jackson

September 20, 2010

Did You Ever Meet Michael?

Were you one of the lucky ones who got to meet Michael Jackson? Would you like to share your story with us for an exciting new project we are working on? If so, email your story along with any photographs you may have, to Valmai Owens, Director of Publications, at the following email address: editor@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com. Tell us a little about your experience of meeting The King of Pop. We want to hear your story.

Tribute Tidbits

Member Comment of the Month
We receive so many wonderful comments on the MJTP site from members in response to articles on our blogs, Michael’s Angels, or in group postings. I want to share some of them each week with everyone in our community. Each week I will select a comment that I feel should be shared with everyone and post it in this section.

This week I want to share with you a comment that was left on my blog as a response to my article Why We Love Michael Jackson. It speaks beautifully to the undying love Michael gave to his fans.

One of the most moving accounts of Michael's loyalty to his fans I found in an article written by his "former friend" Uri Geller. It’s incredible...

"I walked with him for 200 yards through the pouring rain across an Oxford road and past barriers after his address to the privileged Union audience last month, to a huddle of drenched and shivering fans. They had not been able to get tickets, and they had turned up on a bitter night without any real hope of being close to Michael for more than a moment, but they (and not the curiosity-hunters in the Union building) were the real fans.

Michael truly loves his fans. When he tells them, he does not do it in the superficial way that most pop stars intend when they shout it from the stage. He means it this way - when Michael walked through the rain that night, he was on crutches, with two broken bones in a foot that was swaddled in bandages. By the time we got back to the limousine he was squeezing filthy, icy rainwater out of the bandages onto newspapers on the floor. I laid my hands on the aching flesh and let energy flow through me, to activate Michael's own healing powers. He sat back with a calm expression on his face and his eyes closed, perfectly accepting of the possibility that healing can begin with positive thinking."

This is Michael Jackson for you!

In Michael’s Words
“If you enter this world knowing you are loved, and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.”

September 12, 2010

Wildlife Warriors Joins Michael’s Chorus of “Earth Song”

By Michelle Gold, Director of Development - Upon contacting Kirby Orr, Communications Director of Wildlife Warriors, I was honored to learn that they have accepted our invitation to align themselves with our mission to continue Michael’s legacy of exceptional humanitarian work.

The partnership we have formed will honor not only Michael’s dream of a better world by teaching how to improve our environment and preserve wildlife and natural habitats. It also will honor the global mission of another brilliant man whose presence is dearly missed, Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter.

Michael was the exceptional humanitarian who acted as the “mirror” of our actions, calling our attention to how society has taken so much from the earth, depleting many of its natural resources and disturbing the delicate balance of nature.

Steve was the exceptionally passionate conservationist who dedicated his life to the field of animal rescue, environmental preservation, research and public education…Read More

Tribute Tidbits

In Michael’s Words

What about animals,
We’ve turned kingdoms to dust.
What about elephants,
Have we lost their trust?
What about crying whales,
We’re ravaging the seas.
What about forest trails,
Burnt despite our pleas.

– Michael Jackson, Earth Song

September 3, 2010

Saving Lives

Letter from the Editor
Dear MJTP Dot Members:

Michael often spoke about the way in which he created music. I remember once he said, “If I sat here and played some chords and said I’m going to write the best song I’ve ever written, nothing ever happens; something in the heavens has to say look, this is the time, this is when it’s going to be laid on you and this is when I want you to have it.”

I can honestly say that it works the same way for me in writing about him. If I sit down to write an article or the newsletter without first having inspiration, nothing comes out. I know when I’m supposed to write about something because certain things start to come into my awareness. Such is the case with this week’s issue of the MJTP newsletter. It came together through several synchronistic events.

The Official Book of The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait, Fans In The Mirror, is available for purchase on the MJTP website. When I asked its editor, Valmai Owens, for a story to give from the book to highlight in this week’s newsletter, she gave me the story of a woman whose life was saved by Michael Jackson through the song You Are Not Alone.

Earlier that week, I had two different young women also reveal to me that Michael Jackson saved their life. I wrote about their stories in the spotlight article called You Are Not Alone: How Michael Jackson Saved Lives.

Then I learned about how Randy Jackson’s generosity helped save a young girl who was in the fight of her life with a rare disease called Vascular Malformation. MJTP dot members are invited to read about her story and send her a get well message.

It became obvious to me that this week’s newsletter was to be about saving lives. Their stories are very heartfelt and inspiring, and maybe one of them is meant to help someone in the world going through something similar.

Finally, please read Valmai Owens’ article about the difference between Truth vs. Sensationalism. I found the rage inside of me returning as she recounted how badly Michael had been treated in the press throughout his life and particularly during his 2005 trial. It is an excellent article and a must read.

Linda Higgins
Director of Community Development
Editor-In-Chief, MJTP Newsletter

Fans In The Mirror Book

The following story is an excerpt from Fans In The Mirror, The Official Book of The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. This woman tells a poignant story about a time in her life where she found herself in a dark place and how Michael and the song You Are Not Alone brought her back into the light:

“One day my world came crashing down around me. The man that I had devoted myself to for seven years had found someone new! I was discarded like an old shoe. My sadness was unbearable. I did not-- could not - live with the pain in my heart.

I had my prescription of anxiety medication, my final good-bye letter, and I started to prepare myself for my final day. I made one more trip to the CD player, and put in a disc that a friend had given me years ago. I could barely make out the title for the tears. Then You Are Not Alone began to play.

I listened to the words and my head began to spin. I dropped to the floor. "You are not alone, for I am here with you....."

In my moments of pure weakness, so close to finality, I heard these words. I heard Michael!

He is my angel, and in this light he will always be with me.

Michael, I thank you”

You can read her full story and many more touching stories like this, by purchasing your copy of Fans In The Mirror. Get your copy here.

Spotlight Article
You Are Not Alone: How Michael Jackson Saved Lives

By Linda Higgins - He was once asked how he would like to be remembered. Michael’s response was, "As a person who came and brought light to the world, some escapism; also as a voice for the voiceless children, because I love them. I’m living for the children. If it weren’t for the kids, I would throw in the towel."

The first young woman I spoke to, told me about her painful childhood. She grew up feeling alone and insecure as a result of adults who betrayed her. She said to me: "I am one of those voiceless children. I’m telling you, if he wasn’t there, I wouldn’t still be alive today."

The second young woman revealed that at age 13, she decided to commit suicide. She tells a chilling story of the day she decided to take her life….. Read about it here.

Randy Jackson, Michael Jackson’s Brother, Donates $60,000 to Help Save a Young Girl’s Life

Upon hearing about the story of Treasure Dearsaw, a young girl who is in the fight of her life with a rare condition called Vascular Malformation, Randy Jackson felt compelled to reach out to her and her family to offer some help.

Vascular Malformation is disease in which lesions form on the tongue causing swelling and bleeding. If her tongue swells too much it could close her airway possibly causing her to choke to death. Treasure had already undergone nine procedures and was requiring a tenth procedure that was going to cost $60,000 to perform. Randy generously gave her family the funds so that Treasure could get the operation. Because of his gift, doctors were able to operate and save her life.

In a statement given to x17online, Randy said “No child should be afraid that they’re going to die. It breaks my heart to see her suffering like that. Treasure’s a beautiful child, and it was God’s plan for me to help out. This is the least I can do. She deserves to be happy.”

Help Send Get Well Messages to Treasure
MJTP partner, 3T Fans United, has teamed up with other fans sites, Jackson Source and We Love 3T, to create a giant get well card for Treasure. They have asked us to invite our dot members to be part of the get well card.

Send Treasure a heartfelt message by clicking here.

Tribute Tidbits

The MJTP Attends the Premiere of The Way He Makes Them Feel
David Ilan, along with the Tribute Portrait, were invited to be a featured attraction at the Hollywood Premiere of The Way He Makes Them Feel.Thousands were in attendance and hundreds were able to meet David and witness their dots being drawn.

Many of our dot members attended the screening. They expressed how excited they were to meet David and find their dot in the Portrait. David was just as thrilled to meet them! To see some of the great pictures of the event click here.