Young fan believes a Michael Jackson portrait can heal him
The Michael Jackson portrait project was launched by Jerry Biederman and artist David Eilan. By creating a website, they invited fans from around the world to sign up in order to have a dot included in the portrait. For each person who registers on the site, David Eilan adds one dot to the Michael Jackson portrait.
The portrait is currently still in progress, and fans can view its image on the website. The site has become a huge social base for fans. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world are active on the site, discussing topics, making connections, and supporting Michael’s projects.
Recently, the website organized a contest for young fans and asked them to answer the question: why should their dot be placed next to the dot of Michael Jackson in the portrait? A few months earlier, David Eilan had started the portrait by placing four dots—representing Michael and his three children—inside Michael’s heart.
Many responses were received from children around the world, and one of them was from Joshua. He wrote:
"I love MJ. I love dancing, music, the heart, and the love he has for kids. I miss him so much. I need him right now. I have leukemia, and I know that if he were here, he would help me. Maybe having my dot next to the dot that belongs to him will help me. I had my third chemotherapy today, and it was a very bad day. I wish he were here with me right now. With love. Joshua."
Jerry Biederman says that about 200 members of the portrait stepped forward within just one week after this message was posted, sending Joshua messages of love and hope. They are looking for his email address so they can contact him directly.
One of the charities in Australia arranged for Joshua’s uncle’s daughter—who works with the organization—to call Joshua.
Jerry Biederman said the organization he mentioned is called "A Little Something for Michael".
Fait, Joshua’s mother, has written many open letters to the website, including the one below:
"I have to say that the love, friendship, and support I receive from others—especially from members of the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait website—is what keeps me going. My family, especially my son, has lived through hell in the past four weeks. The pain and suffering Joshua is going through is unbearable. Whenever he feels worse, I put his headphones on and he listens to Michael Jackson’s songs, and that’s how he feels comfort.
This story may be similar to Ryan White’s life. A teenage boy who had hemophilia and, due to a blood transfusion with contaminated blood, developed AIDS. At the time, people didn’t have the right understanding of this disease, and Ryan was rejected by school and by his friends and those around him, so that no one would catch it. In 1990, at the age of 19, he died from the disease. Michael met Ryan and developed a friendly relationship with him. He dedicated the song Gone Too Soon ("So Soon Gone")—released on his album Dangerous—to Ryan White. Michael also spoke about Ryan and the importance of educating people about AIDS at the Bill Clinton presidential celebration.
Ryan’s mother had said in an interview:
"Michael didn’t care what race you were or what color your skin was, what disability you had, or what illness you had. Michael truly loved all the children."
The grief of losing Michael has been enormous for all his fans, but even greater than that is the legacy he left behind.
Michael believed that the future belongs to children, and that this sense of responsibility in the current generation can create a brighter tomorrow for children. He once said:
"When you don’t have a childhood—like me and the other star kids—you spend the rest of your life trying to make up for what you didn’t have. But what I want to do is help all the children who aren’t as lucky as I was. Children who are sick, who have serious illnesses, who are poor."
Many children around the world praise Michael for the love and importance he always showed them.
An association has been set up on this website called "The Power of the Portrait." Many members of the group have shared good news about things that happened to them after registering on the website and receiving their number. Many members of the site have found an immense sense of unity and empathy with others. They believe Michael continues to keep people together wherever they are.
Joshua’s mother has recently made the website members happy with good news:
"What we prayed for for weeks has come true. Joshua’s body is responding well to his treatments, and more importantly, all the treatment centers that had a share in Joshua’s care confirm the good results. His illness was first diagnosed when 95% of the cancer cells were in his bone marrow. Two weeks ago, that number dropped to 20%, and now only 1.5% remains. He is in the same condition the doctors wanted him to reach. Our prayers were answered, and my heart is full of gratitude, love, and hope. Thank you—not only to God and Jesus Christ, but to all of you who supported us."
Love is enough to cleanse society of anything negative. Love is the answer. Fans can send their messages of support for Joshua to the editor of the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait blog, Linda Higgins, at
Source: eMJey / Examiner /MichaelJacksonTributePortrait.com