Israel endured so much in his short life. But even in the hardest moments, he brought so much light. One of my favorite memories from his transplant journey was how he never went by his real name. The first doctor we saw when he was admitted asked him his name, and Israel replied, “Batman.” From then on, he cycled through names from his favorite movies: Randall, Pascal, and eventually Lewis.

If you asked me for a defining memory of our journey, it might surprise you. Some of my most cherished moments were the long hospital stays — the time I got to spend one-on-one with Hunsley, free from the distractions of the world.