Collin Joon Sun Kim

Collin Joon Sun Kim (김준선) of Fairfax, Virginia, passed away on November 21, 2022, with his parents Sung and Jo and his brother Aaron by his side, after having conquered Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) twice in less than two years. Collin was 13 years old.

Born in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on December 18, 2008, Collin was a joy to those who knew him and always strived to make a difference in everything he did. From a very young age, Collin had a special love for God and loved Him above all, and had high expectations of himself and much determination to make the world a better place. He naturally had so much love and was “thankful” for the life he had, often saying that because he had been “given much by God,” he would use his “gifts and talents” to help those in need, especially by becoming a virologist one day to “save as many lives as possible.” Collin was his parents’ dream before he was born and he was a pure delight — the Lord’s most perfect blessing — throughout his short life here. Collin was an adoring son and brother and a fiercely loyal friend, and we will miss him immensely and forever remember him as a God-loving, happy, compassionate, fun, generous, connected, purposeful, and beloved child with a bright future.

Collin was an 8th grader at Thoreau Middle School in Vienna, Virginia. He was a voracious reader who loved to read everything and write fantasy novels (and thoroughly enjoyed reading the Bible that he had read it cover-to-cover “a few times” by the time he was in 5th grade); build Legos and plastic models that sometimes take days to finish; listen to music (hospital staff often praised Collin’s “great taste in music”); ride his scooter around the neighborhood with his brother and friends; enjoyed playing video games with friends and his dad and his brother; loved his dad’s steaks and chicken wings and enjoyed all types of cuisines (Korean, Filipino, Indian, Italian, Greek, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Japanese, Thai); and loved to travel (was especially thrilled about going swimming at “fancy resorts” and “eating all the sushi”). Collin played trumpet and violin, and was a Taekwondo black belt who loved everything about South Korea and was a proud Korean-American.

Declaring that he is “just like Job in the Bible” and loved the Lord like Job did, Collin gallantly battled AML twice (in July 2020-March 2021 and January-July 2022) with incredible faith, determination, and strength. Although overwhelmed by debilitating circumstances, Collin never complained, smiled easily, and thanked everyone often, even when in acute pain. Collin truly taught those around him about how to reconcile one’s pain and tribulations with Christ’s suffering, and courageously offered up his cancer journey for pediatric cancer research by graciously serving as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (www.LLS.org) “2022 Boy of the Year” ambassador to raise $3.3 million in March-June 2022 to help cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Collin is survived by his parents Sung and Jo, younger brother Aaron, and loving grandparents and uncles.

The family of Collin would like to express their deep and heartfelt gratitude to every person who loved and supported Collin especially during his long, arduous journey. Your fervent, unceasing prayers for Collin were life-giving and sustaining, and will be remembered forever. In lieu of flowers, Collin’s family asks that a donation in honor of Collin be sent to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maryland (www.RMHCMaryland.org).

Visitation will be Thursday, December 1, 2022, from 4 to 8 pm, at National Funeral Home in Falls Church, Virginia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 2, 2022, at 11 am, at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Fairfax, Virginia.

Burial will follow at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia.

"I know God is really putting me through this hardship to make me a stronger person. I will do whatever God wants me to do. It’s OK." -- Collin on March 28, 2022, through crippling pain during the second round of chemotherapy