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Eun joo Yoon

Eun-joo Yoon was a Korean American registered nurse who lived in Evanston, Illinois, with her husband, Sung-ho Yoon, and their children, Travis and Hana. After Travis was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in December 2024, she participated in his treatment planning and became his primary caregiver during treatment in Evanston. She also formed a lasting family relationship with Travis’s Juilliard roommate, Ezra Cruz.

Nursing and Caregiving

When Travis was hospitalized at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in late December 2024, Eun-joo’s clinical knowledge allowed her to understand his test results and treatment plan. She asked the oncology team detailed questions and remained involved through his six-week course of induction chemotherapy.

After the induction phase, Travis transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for consolidation treatment closer to the family home. Eun-joo coordinated with the Northwestern oncology team and served as his primary caregiver.

Eun-joo had made juk for Travis during childhood illnesses and continued to prepare it when he needed familiar, mild food. During Travis’s induction treatment in New York, Soon-ja Yoon brought a separate batch made from her own recipe.

Travis died in August 2025 after his leukemia relapsed and became refractory.

Family

Sung-ho Yoon

Sung-ho was Eun-joo’s husband and the father of Travis and Hana. He took emergency leave during Travis’s initial hospitalization and shared the family’s medical and household responsibilities during treatment.

Travis Yoon

Main article: Travis Yoon (Battle with ALL)

Eun-joo traveled from Evanston after Travis’s diagnosis and remained involved throughout his treatment in New York and Illinois. Her nursing experience supported her advocacy and care coordination but also gave her a detailed understanding of the disease’s progression.

Hana Yoon

Hana was Eun-joo and Sung-ho’s younger child. She was seventeen when Travis died.

Relationship with Ezra Cruz

Main article: Ezra Cruz and Yoon Family

Eun-joo met Ezra during Travis’s hospitalization in New York. She found him keeping vigil beside Travis with his trumpet case and coursework nearby, greeted him with “You must be Ezra,” and told him, “I know. Thank you.” She included him in Travis’s hospital support and later welcomed him into the Yoon home during his visits to Evanston.

Eun-joo maintained contact with Ezra after Travis’s death. She attended his wedding to Nina Cruz with Sung-ho and Hana, and Ezra arranged the posthumous release of Travis’s ‘’이어받은 선율’’ through the Fifth Bar Collective.

Memorable Quotes

“You must be Ezra.”

(Source: Travis Yoon (Battle with ALL); spoken when Eun-joo met Ezra during Travis’s hospitalization)

“I know. Thank you.”

(Source: Travis Yoon (Battle with ALL); spoken to Ezra during the same meeting)

Characters Supporting Characters Living Characters Korean American Characters Yoon Family Medical Professionals Nurses