A Dane County family is turning a shared love of popcorn into a business built around the health needs of two brothers who received heart transplants as toddlers. Leo and Annie Burger are developing Brave Hearts Gourmet Popcorn, a family-run venture intended to give their sons Ezra, 18, and Ivan, 12, opportunities to work when they are well without risking a job when illness keeps them away. Both boys were born with a mitochondrial disease that led to heart failure. Ezra is 16 years post-transplant, and Ivan is 10 years post-transplant. Even a minor illness can have serious consequences for the brothers, Leo Burger said, sometimes stretching into weeks of recovery or a hospital stay. The family wants to build flexibility into the business so that a health setback does not mean the boys lose their place at work. The family considered a conventional food truck but decided it would be more demanding and less likely to involve everyone. Their daughter, Eleanor, has helped create flavors and manage social media, while Ezra enjoys preparing and serving the popcorn. The family has tested varieties including caramel, strawberry banana, birthday cake and garlic parmesan. The idea took shape after Leo raised the possibility of starting a business with his wife. Annie quickly put together a business plan, he said. Popcorn was already a family favorite, and Leo also drew inspiration from a stand his family visited while he was growing up in central Wisconsin. The truck has been purchased with help from a GoFundMe campaign, which Leo said he pursued to avoid taking on debt. It still needs work, including electrical improvements and heating and air conditioning, before it is ready for the road. The Burgers hope to bring the truck to private events, food cart gatherings and other community events around Dane County. They are also considering activities such as games and movie nights. Leo said organizations have expressed interest, and some parents of children with disabilities have told him they can imagine a similar business working for their families. For the family, the venture is about more than income. Leo said the boys’ medical challenges and extended hospital experiences left the family feeling isolated and limited in the activities they could share. Eleanor said working on the business has brought the family closer. Leo hopes Brave Hearts could eventually expand to other cities and help another family start a truck each year. For now, the family is focused on finishing its vehicle and creating a business that can adapt when the boys’ health requires it.