It took me weeks to come to terms with the fact that there were no easy answers. I couldn't change the past or the diagnosis, so I focused on educating myself and becoming Tinslee's biggest advocate. We underwent all the necessary tests, scans, and procedures, and spent a year going in for lab work and check-ups.

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.