Samuel Barbosa, my firstborn, my beloved baby boy forever, passed away at the age of 28 after his final battle with epilepsy. The Lord took him home. Samuel loved this world. He loved people. He loved God. He loved truth. He loved love itself. He loved encouraging others. Samuel was a fierce fighter in every sense of the word. Bold, principled, and unwavering in who he was. He stood on conviction. He stood on faith. He stood on love. He was let down by systems meant to protect him and denied benefits and supports he deserved. His quality of life could have been so much better, but none of that ever hardened his heart. He was never angry. Samuel lived every day as if it might be his last because for him, it often could have been. Epilepsy was not something Samuel simply lived with. It was something he fought every single day. From the moment he woke up, what might be a common cold for someone else could trigger severe neurological complications for him. The seizures, the falls, the blows to his head, the moments without oxygen sometimes lasting five minutes at a time meant Samuel faced death more times than anyone I have ever known. And still, he chose love. He was a teacher, a coach, a mentor, a brother, and a confidant. A fighter on and off the mat. A fighter in spirit, in body, and in faith. Samuel will forever be our champion in our family. He leaves behind a family who loves him beyond words, especially his siblings, who will carry his light forward. We hope to hold a homecoming memorial service, a true celebration of Samuel’s extraordinary life, a place where people come together to share stories, love, and remembrance. We hope to have this service filmed and shared live so that as his siblings grow, they can return to it again and again and hear who Samuel was, how deeply he was loved, and how much he mattered to this world. If you are able, please consider supporting our family during this difficult time. Any help is deeply appreciated, and we also welcome your memories and stories of Samuel.