Walnut City Council to Honor Michael Miyamoto

The Walnut City Council Wednesday night will honor a beloved teen who recently died after a lengthy fight against leukemia.

The council plans to name Dec. 12 Michael Miyamoto Day and present a proclamation to the family.

Miyamoto, a Walnut High School graduate in the class of 2012, died Nov. 1.  The 18-year-old was well known in the community, participating in both the Diamond Bar and Walnut Relay for Life events in years past.

The teen was first diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, also known as acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL, when he was 7.  That particular form of cancer attacks the blood and bone marrow. 

Miyamoto had been in remission following a bone marrow transplant in September 2011, but the cancer returned for the fourth time in September of this year.

Hundreds of friends and family members participated in a candlelight vigil Nov. 9 at Walnut High in honor of Miyamoto. 

Katherine Chung, one of Miyamoto’s best friends, described him at the vigil as positive and optimistic about life.

“Michael lived his life with such vitality you would have never guessed he’d been battling Leukemia since second grade,” said Chung, “He made the best of every situation. He was the person who appreciated life more than anyone I’ve ever known. He will be a part of us forever in our memories, in our hearts and in our prayers.”

His 21-year-old sister Jaclyn said the support from the community gave her family strength.

“It’s been incredible," she said. "We definitely would not have been able to get through it without it. People have been so amazing, they make it a lot better and easier to get through each day knowing people I don’t even know or who didn’t even know Michael personally wrote messages and letters talking about how he’s impacted them, it’s unbelievable.”

The Walnut City Council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.