Help Isola's Fight Against Cancer

From Isola’s mom, Tricia “We found out this week that Isola’s cancer has returned. Our joyous, clever, snuggly, inquisitive five-year-old is going to have to fight for her life, again. Heartbroken, terrified, angry, and depleted are only a few words to describe how we are feeling. There really are no words to explain this feeling and I hate trying to find them. She already fought so hard, battling cancer and won. She just finished treatment 7 months ago. Her body is just getting strong again, her body is functioning like normal again, her eyelashes, eyebrows and hair are coming back. She loves going to Kindergarten and making new friends. How has this nasty cancer returned and what does this mean, coming back so soon?”

Isola is currently undergoing all the scans/tests needed to stage her relapse of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL ALK+). Her original diagnosis in February 2022 was stage 3. ALCL is a rare cancer and there is no standard treatment plan for when ALCL relapses, more research is needed. We know that Isola has an aggressive form of ALCL since it came back under a year of original diagnosis. Decisions are being made right now on what options Isola has to beat this cancer, obliviate it, so it never returns. It will involve 1-3 months of chemotherapy followed by a lengthy (2 month minimum) hospital stay that involves intensive chemotherapy to completely wipe out Isola’s immune system to prepare her body for a stem cell transplant. The goal is to weaken her body so much that it won’t fight against any of the new stem cells Isola receives during the stem cell transplant (if/when she matches with a donor). There is hope for a cure but we need all your positive thoughts, prayers, support and energy right now for Isola and her family.

Many have asked how they could help. Relieving Rob and Tricia of the financial pressures that have come from Isola’s cancer diagnosis and now again with her relapse, will allow them to focus on what matters most; time with Isola and her older sister Antonette (8). They continue to give everything to create a loving, supportive, positive environment for their family during this unimaginable time. Your donation will also go towards providing Isola hope and joy during her long hospital stay. Rob and Tricia plan to continue what they did during her initial treatment course and decorate her hospital room with a new travel destination each week (complete with wall vinyl decor, books about the country, stuffed animals of native species, themed pajamas, and cultural snacks). This way Isola can explore the world while stuck in her hospital bed and hopefully one day she will travel to these destinations. With all that has happened this year, Rob and Tricia need our help. Any donations that go beyond the family’s needs will go towards Isola picking a travel destination to visit when she is strong enough to travel after treatment. A celebration of her strength. Beyond that, remaining donations will go to pediatric cancer research.