Over the weekend, the poker community learned of the loss of Thuy ShesNoGood Doan (pictured), who passed away after a two-year battle with soft tissue sarcoma in her leg at the age of 25. Doan brought an incredible amount of energy and hope to the poker community and, accordingly, her passing has ignited an outpouring of support on sites like PokerNews and TwoPlusTwo. Let’s revisit some of the reaction.

In an exclusive interview with PocketFives.com on Tuesday about hosting the PokerStarsWorld Championship of Online Poker radio program, Joe Stapleton shared his memories of Doan: “It’s so hard to talk about this without being clichéd. Thuy was generally an inspirational person to so many people. She was not preachy in any way and lived her life. I looked at her as a hero. I see myself giving up in her situation and being negative. She had every reason to have a negative attitude and was one of the most positive and smiley people around.”

Stapleton summarized, “She fought hard in a spot where most people would have given up. Hopefully, her life being taken will teach other people to respect what they have.”

Barry barryg1 Greenstein was one of the first to break the news of Doan’s passing, doing so on Twitter. On Sunday, Greenstein typed, “I never found anyone who didn’t like Thuy Doan. She died of cancer today at the age of 25.” The three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner added, “I wanted her to keep battling even though she told me she only wished for the nightmare to be over.”

Also weighing in via Twitter was Doyle Brunson: “Wish I had taken more time to know Thuy Doan better. Everybody has nice things to say about her. That speaks well for such a short life.” Brunson was one of several pros that shaved their heads in late 2009 in honor of Doan’s battle against cancer.

That event, held two years ago in December at Phil Ivey’s villa around the time of the Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic, also included the likes of Tom durrrr Dwan, Bertrand ElkY Grospellier, and Greenstein.

Through it all, Doan looked at poker as a way to maintain a sense of normalcy and balance in her life. In an August 2009 blog, while awaiting news as to whether the tumor in her leg was benign or malignant, Doan wrote, “I push myself to keep playing and am grateful to be able to turn to this game. It allows me to maintain some normalcy and control over my life during this time of helplessness. I’m also grateful for the people it puts me into contact with.”

On TwoPlusTwo, several players showed respect for Doan in an NVG thread. Former WSOP November Niner Craig Marquis was among them, posting, “Sad day. Thuy was awesome.” Leo Superfluous Man Wolpert echoed, “RIP, she was a great poker player and person.”

Also offering his condolences on TwoPlusTwo was CardRunners instructor John JimmyLegs Wray, who reflected, “Ugh. Not enough truly good people in poker (or the world for that matter) to have one taken from us so soon. Rest in peace Thuy and condolences to friends and family.”

Phil OMGClayAiken Galfond (pictured) told his followers on Twitter that he was at a complete loss for words: “Haven’t mentioned @RealThuyDoan’s passing yet because I’m at a loss for words. Today is a very sad day. Rest in peace, Thuy.”

Doan’s last blog on PokerRoad came in November. She had just returned from a trip to Wyoming to be with her biochemist and naturopathic healer, who Doan noted could be considered by some to be against the grain: “His approach to health is highly effective, science-based, revolutionary in the Western world, and often contrary to conventional medicine.”

In January, Doan reemerged from a hiatus from Twitter and told her 2,000 followers, “Sry for lack of updates. Things r bad. Will explain later.” In July, she followed that up with, “I will write again soon assuming the morphine doesn’t wipe me out.” Her last Tweet came on the 18th of that month.

We’d like to extend our deepest condolences to Doan’s family, friends, and the entire poker community.