Elyse Yu, who was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), an extremely rare blood disease, died on Oct. 6 at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. She was 8 months old. 

Throughout her fight, her parents, Tim and Susan, searched fervently to find their daughter a bone marrow match. By rallying the Korean community, they were able to help register more than 2,200 new donors. Ultimately, blood tests showed that Erin, Elyse’s triplet sister, qualified as a match. However, during her bone marrow transplant, Elyse’s body could not handle the side effects of chemotherapy, which initially helped control the disease.  

“She still smiled every day,” Susan said. “I could see her fighting until the end.”

On a Web site dedicated to Elyse, www.elyseyu.blogspot.com, Tim and Susan ask supporters to honor their daughter’s memory by becoming a bone marrow donor. Susan has also launched PrincessaDresses.com, an online kids’ formalwear shop. A portion of the profits will be donated to the Histiocytosis Association of America (www.histio.org), which raises funds for the research of histiocytosis diseases such as HLH.