Yensu Thao

Yensu Nplias Maya Thao passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 10, 2019, cradled in the arms of her parents, Tchao and Susie Thao, of Minneapolis, MN.

Yensu, whose name means "to always overcome," was born on September 8, 2018 at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. She was born two minutes after her twin sister Suyen, whose name means "the first to overcome."

Yensu was given the middle name Nplias in honor of her strong and resilient maternal grandmother. She was also given the middle name Maya after Maya Angelou, whose stories and words touched many lives.

In her short time, Yensu touched the hearts of thousands and moved many people - including strangers - with her medical journey. She wowed doctors and nurses with her strength, patience, and perseverance. She captured their hearts with her sweet coos and her big, wandering eyes. Former nurses frequently visited Yensu on their short work breaks.

For six months and two days, Yensu's parents stood vigilantly by her side. They called her their "perfect, sweet girl." Yensu loved cuddling with her poppa, pursing her lips together for her different flavored Lip Smacker chapsticks, and listening to her momma's singing.

Yensu passed away surrounded by a throng of family, many of whom she met for the first time. Her mother's last gift to Yensu was breast milk through her feeding tube.

In addition to her parents and twin sister, Yensu is survived by her puppies, Coconut and Kato. She will be remembered by maternal grandmother, Blia Lee, paternal grandparents, Xiong and Ger Thao, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Yensu is preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Nao Tou Vang.

A daylong funeral service is scheduled at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Stillwater, MN on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Doors open at 10 a.m. and service begins at 11 a.m.

A 10 a.m. burial will be at Roselawn Cemetery in Roseville, MN on Sunday, April 7, 2019.


To honor Yensu, you can consider:
- Registering to be a bone marrow donor at:
join.bethematch.org/swab4yensu

- Donating to the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation at:
http://shwachman-diamond.org/donate-to-sdsf