Before we ring in 2024, we wanted to share a Merry Christmas 2023 from our family to yours:

We thank God that He sustained Manny’s heart for another year: from Manny’s ICD surgery to his recovery over the late summer, enduring many heart and blood assessments like a champ, to experiencing newfound freedom from his cardiac life vest, learning to drive with his permit, enjoying English Country dancing, immersing himself in British literature (he passionately performed a riveting scene from Jane Eyre for his class), and spending quality family time with his beloved grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, it’s been a truly jump-for-joy year for Manny:

As we close out 2023, we are soberly reminded that each year, each month, indeed, each day is a precious gift from God our Creator. We want to remember and celebrate the well-lived life of our dear brother in Christ, Michael Wu, who unexpectedly went home to heaven on December 29th in California. Our hearts ache alongside all those he left behind, especially his beloved wife Diana and their three young children, Mike’s parents, grandparents, and siblings. Mike was our fantastic fellow co-laborer in Christ in youth ministry for many years: a gifted worship leader, caring discipler, man of God, loving and faithful husband to Diana, doting dad to a precious daughter and two beloved sons and an incredibly generous and warm-hearted friend we could honestly share anything with and pray about everything together. He loved our Lord, and he loved on each of our kids, often bringing them thoughtful Christmas gifts year after year. Mike and Diana were always cheering our family on from afar as ardent supporters of COTA for Manny, and we thank God that we had the blessed privilege to share a meal and catch up with Mike in 2017 when he visited us in NC. Although we know you are enjoying heaven’s bountiful banquet of praise now, Mike, with no more pain and suffering, we sure do miss you an awful lot here on earth. Thank you for being one of the best and most loyal brothers in Christ we have ever known. Thank you for praying for Manny his entire life. We are keeping Diana and the rest of your grieving family in our prayers and you will forever remain in our hearts:

With Christ’s Love & ours,

The Lees

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15