Ari Schultz’s father wrote a letter to his deceased 5-year-old son: ‘I’ll never be as brave as you’
The father of 5-year-old Ari Schultz, the heart-transplant recipient who died two weeks ago after leaving Boston Children’s Hospital, has written a devastatingly sad letter addressed to his late son.
The little boy’s medical journey captivated people across the nation through viral videos that chronicled his journey from getting a heart transplant to being released from the hospital.
The letter posted online Friday was dated Feb. 16, 2022, which would have been Ari’s 10th birthday.
It chronicles the full spectrum of Ari’s short life: how feisty he was even in the womb, his laughter during the grueling periods in the hospital, the hours spent on the basketball court that Make-A-Wish built in the family’s backyard, and his love for his younger brother and sister.
Ari’s father recounted the boy’s courage in the midst of seemingly endless pain and procedures.
“You faced everything with determination, grit, and grace. You were ready to karate chop Dr. Blume at every turn, but you also defined bravery. Crying when you needed a blood draw or an IV, but holding out your arm and barking commands to tell the nurses how to do it. I’ll never be as brave as you.”
He also wrote about what Ari’s life could have been like in the future.
“You were perfect again. You could do anything. See every Star Wars and Harry Potter movie. Drink all the water you wanted, play all day, and watch all the Sox, Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots games. It was pure joy.”
A devoted sports fan, Ari had been invited to throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park on Aug. 27. His father imagines him attending a “sports kindergarten” at age 6 and making the varsity golf team at Nashoba High School at age 9.Near the end of the letter, he gives a heartfelt promise.
“I’ll never hold you again. Instead I’ll hold you in my heart every day.”
Read the full letter on Ari’s website here.
https://www.facebook.com/dangerschultz/posts/1429631627120084
