First of all, I apologize for sending you all this message/starting this convo out of the blue. I'm Miguel's 20 year old younger sister, Karen, and I've never been on this forum, but I know Miguel (Kouji) was an administrator for this forum and, well, I found an old conversation for the admins, so I assume you guys know him somewhat, and I think it's my duty to tell you all this. I'm not sure how up to date on his condition you were, but I remember him receiving a card from many people here once, so I'll assume he kept you informed.

On Monday morning while at the hospital for rectal bleeding he was having and around 9AM MST, Miguel suffered a stroke caused by a massive hemorrhage in his brain. A neurosurgeon operated, removed the clot (around the size of a softball), and we were hoping for the best. This morning, at 8 AM, the neurologist and neurosurgeon informed us that he's suffered critical brain damage, resulting in general aphasia and unresponsiveness- basically, he can't understand language anymore, he isn't reacting to any commands or stimuli, and the surgeon told us that there was nothing he could. He's essentially braindead. As a family, we made the decision to take him off life support and remove his breathing tube. At the moment, his body is still alive, but he's sedated and he's been given plenty of morphine and such so that he's comfortable. We're just waiting for his body to give out, but he's not really in there anymore, you know? He's basically sleeping now, until he passes physically too.

I'm sorry to have to tell you all like this, but we know it's what he wanted, and I don't think he'd want to leave you guys hanging. Thank you so much for everything you've done for him in terms of making him laugh and smile and be happy. I was talking to him these past few weeks and I know he really had fun with you guys. You guys were some of his best friends and I know he'd want you to know. Thank you so much for all you've done, really, truly, thank you for everything you've done for him.

I'll check in on here a few times, I guess, if you have anything you want to say. The doctors tell us he can still hear us, but he can't respond and he might not understand what we say (worth a shot anyway).

Again, thank you so much, I'm really sorry to have to tell you like this, and you guys are great, okay? Really you are, you helped him keep his mind off of all he was going through. If there's anything you want me to do with this account, tell me (I've not been on here before, so you might have to guide me through it a little, but I am internet savvy so I'm not completely useless).

--Karen​