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.

What started as a small local fundraiser in memory of an incredible little girl has evolved into a powerful movement uniting friends, family, neighbors, and supporters in pursuit of a future with better outcomes and brighter hope for families affected by FA.