On May 24, 2014, Joshua Israel Hernandez of Kyle was called upon to join the Lord’s All-Star team in heaven. Joshua was a young man who faced many challenges but never once complained about his path.
At the age of 15, Joshua was diagnosed with brain cancer and was able to beat it at the age of 17. He was cancer-free for two years before another form of brain cancer returned and took his life five years later at the age of 22. Joshua never once backed down from the challenge; he instead turned this negative into a positive to help others.
On a daily basis, Joshua’s strength, courage, love and faith inspired the people around him to live a better life. Even during his last days, Joshua somehow found the strength to continue to work his magic in our lives and comfort the people around him and help us make difficult decisions.
He was a young man that had a smile on his face no matter how he felt and would just brighten the room every time he stepped in. His presence not only gave his family and friends courage but it gave us “Hope” in every sense of the word.
Joshua was an athletic young man who loved to play basketball and football. He was smart, strong and one of the most unique individuals that anyone had the privilege to meet. Joshua’s precious qualities were that he was humble, loving, and did not want the spotlight, he just wanted the love and the laughs.
Joshua is survived by a large family that includes his wife Madison Nicole Hernandez, four loving parents, Thomas and Norma Gomez Medrano, Jose and Angela Perez Hernandez, four siblings, Gabriella Medrano, Thomas Jay Medrano, Ariana Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez. He was lucky enough to have had such loving grandparents, Frank Gomez, Gracie Rodriguez, Antonio and Yolanda Hernandez, and Tommy and Mary Medrano (also his godparents).
Many uncles, aunts and cousins who have brought so much joy and happiness to his life also survive Joshua. Not to mention the greatest friends that a young man could ever imagine. We are forever grateful for each and every one of them. Joshua will be greeted in heaven by his grandparents Antonio and Amelia Perez and other family members who have gone on before.
To all of our friends, businesses and organizations that helped Joshua travel and see things that he dreamt about, we thank and love you very much.
Thank you to everyone associated with the Dell’s Children’s Hospital and especially for the Children office. They were truly amazing to our family throughout these last seven years. Without them, these years could have been lost.
God Bless and We LOVE YOU Joshua Israel Hernandez.
Funeral services were held Thursday, May 29 at St. Anthony’s Marie de Claret Catholic Church in Kyle, followed by burial at Kyle City Cemetery.
–“Forget about the past, don’t worry about the future, and just live for the day.”
