The Ladybug House Name

Hunter's condition took a turn for the worse that night. As his discomfort escalated, I repeatedly called the on-call doctor for assistance.

On the morning of December 30, I left work with a heavy heart, knowing that Hunter's condition was deteriorating rapidly. Sadly, in the early hours of December 31, he lost his battle. In a touching obituary, Seattle Times staff reporter Lornet Turnbull described Hunter as "a young man with an old, giving soul."

Hunter, a recipient of Bellevue High School's Brandy West Award for character and leadership, had shown his generous nature in countless ways. He had sacrificed his own meals during his first and only semester in college to save money, and when the semester ended, he used the remaining credit to buy $900 worth of food for homeless children in Seattle. He also spent his Saturdays distributing hot meals to the homeless in Pioneer Square and dedicated his summers to building homes for the less fortunate in Tijuana, Mexico. In his final year, he was granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which he selflessly re-gifted to New Horizon Ministries, a charity that provides food and clothing to 1,500 children annually. Hunter's mother, Anne Simpson, described him as blessed with a spiritual gift, a sentiment that resonated with those who knew him.

Hunter's compassionate heart also led him to forge a deep friendship with another young man, Francisco, a seventeen-year-old who was battling Osteosarcoma. Francisco, hailing from a remote village near Guatemala City, had undertaken a remarkable journey, walking across Arizona and hitchhiking to Seattle at the age of 13½ to reunite with his uncle and brother-in-law. The sole provider for his mother and nine siblings, Francisco took on various odd jobs, including cleaning and running errands for businesses in Pioneer Square. Due to his undocumented status, he waited until his pain became unbearable before seeking help. When granted emancipation for medical treatment, he remained a constant source of support and laughter for other patients. Like Hunter, Francisco possessed a generous, caring, and passionate spirit. Even in the face of debilitating chemotherapy side effects, he never rated his pain above 2/10.

The night Hunter passed away, Francisco's health also deteriorated rapidly. His tumor pressed against his spine, leaving him paralyzed. As we rushed him to surgery, he expressed his deep sadness by asking, "Why do bad things happen to good people? I donate to 'poor children' through the Save the Children campaign on TV." Just like Hunter, Francisco aspired to make the world a better place. Tragically, a few months later, Francisco too lost his battle.

That night, the emotional weight was palpable. My colleagues, Christiana, Jen, and I gathered around Hunter after his passing, engaged in somber conversations as we prepared him for his final journey. The hospital was quiet, its lights dimming, and snowflakes drifting outside. We were on the cusp of a new year. Then, as we carefully placed Hunter in a body bag, a strange buzzing sound filled the room above him, resembling a tiny, swirling cyclone. We initially thought it was a large, black fly and were puzzled by how a fly had found its way into a hospital room during winter. To our astonishment, it wasn't a fly at all; it was a ladybug that landed directly on Hunter's chest and remained with him.

Tears welled up in our eyes as we wheeled Hunter down the corridor, and then we returned to Francisco's room. In the rush to prepare him for surgery, his room had been left in disarray. A magazine lay face down, strewn across the floor. As I turned it over, my eyes brimmed with tears once more. The magazine was a Children's Highlight, and emblazoned on the front page was a ladybug.

Over the years, ladybugs appeared in the rooms of other children who passed away. However, the most profound connection occurred when I visited Hunter's mother and shared the vision of Ladybug House. Her home was adorned with ladybug-themed items, and she had a story of her own to share. As she cleaned Hunter's room after his passing, she discovered it filled with ladybugs, a poignant and inexplicable presence.

Painted on a building in Guatemala, this mural captures the enduring friendship between Francisco and Hunter, a connection that extends to their families. Hunter's family played a crucial role in facilitating Francisco's father's journey to Seattle, securing him a visa before Francisco's passing. After Francisco's beautiful service in Seattle, he made the poignant journey home with his father. To honor their bond, Francisco's sister named her son "Hunter."