Together for Isabelle

I’d like you to meet, Isabelle Rose Finnemore.  Isabelle is a beautiful and active 9-year-old who was born in Quincy, MA.  She is big sister to Lily and Emilia and the daughter of Jen and Adam Finnemore.  Isabelle loves all sports especially soccer, basketball and dancing.  She has recently started to play the drums and has a passion for singing with her grandfather’s band.  When she is not performing or playing sports, this “daddy’s girl” enjoys hiking with her dad and taking beautiful pictures.  However more than anything else she loves to take a ride on the back of Dad’s motorcycle and feel the cool breeze of the wind blow through her hair. 


In late February 2021 Isabelle complained to Jen and Adam that her eye was bothering her. Initially they thought nothing of it as Isabelle wears glasses and thought perhaps she had a wandering eye.  After an eye appointment and subsequent visit to Children’s’ Hospital in Boston, on Friday March 5, 2021, the family received the shocking news.  Isabelle was diagnosed with a rare and inoperable form of brain cancer called DIPG and the family needs your support.  I am sure that you would agree that it is unfair that any parent and child should have to experience such a life changing moment.



What is DIPG?  Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), which affects children almost exclusively between the ages of 5 and 9, is a cancerous brain tumor found in a part of the brain stem which controls essential bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, eyesight, and balance.  This rare form of childhood brain cancer only affects approximately 300 children in the United States each year. Medical advances in the past 40 years have greatly improved the survival rates for children diagnosed with most types of cancer but these medical advances have done nothing for children with DIPG.  Unfortunately, a child diagnosed with DIPG today faces the same prognosis as a child diagnosed 40 years ago. We plan on changing that statistic.  Our battle will not be an easy one because unfortunately, only 10% of children with DIPG survive for 2 years following their diagnosis and less than 1% survive for 5 years.  



Friends of the family have established this page for the incredible Isabelle and have formed a team called “Together for Isabelle” to raise funds for the family’s medical bills, increase awareness of this horrible disease and best support this loving family.  We recognize that during these difficult times that not everyone can support our cause financially so if you are unable to make a donation, we ask for your prayers and for your help to spread the word about “Together for Isabelle”.

Together we can make a difference.