“She has never complained,” shares Eden, reflecting on her daughter Izabella’s cancer journey. “She has never not done what they asked her to do. And she has had that smile on her face the whole time.”
That’s just the type of person Izabella is. Yes, she is a cancer patient – but she’s never let that define her. She’s a vibrant and resilient 14-year-old who loves sushi, the color pink, her two cats, and spending time with her friends and family. She’s a devoted student who never lets anything get in the way of her learning. She lights up every room she enters, and stays positive for her future. We are, too.
Izabella’s cancer journey started in 8th grade with unexplained headaches, vomiting, and dizziness. Even so, Izabella rarely complained and continued in school. Her mom, Eden, initially chalked her symptoms off as maybe too much screen time, being too tired… not enough water.
It wasn’t until an emergency trip to the doctor during the family vacation that the severity of Izabella’s condition became clear. An MRI revealed a mass in her brain, and she soon received her official diagnosis of Medulloblastoma. Because of its location in Izabella’s brain, surgery to remove the tumor caused loss of muscle tone, unsteadiness, and decreased ability to talk. The road to recovery was a challenging one.
"Over the next two weeks, she lost one function after another. By day 15, she could only move her left knee to signal 'yes,' and her right knee for 'no'," Eden remembers. “She spent a month in inpatient rehab learning how to walk, and after we came home, she really started being able to talk again. Most of her speech recovery has come from therapy and singing. She loves singing.”
The next phase of treatment included six weeks of daily radiation, six months of chemotherapy, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies multiple times a week. It was an intensive and tiring schedule that involved a lot of driving to and from appointments and the clinic, which meant expensive gas tabs and a heavy toll on the family car.
“The gift cards that ASK gave us for gas got us through. At a certain point during treatment, the brakes were going out on my car. Some places quoted me between three and four thousand dollars. ASK connected us with Midas of Richmond, and they gave us a rental car so we could make it to chemo that day and fixed our brakes for us. They took all of the stress out of it." - ASK mom Eden
Going through cancer treatment often makes it difficult for young patients to keep up with their peers in school, but Izabella was determined. ASK’s educational support team members worked with Izabella and her parents to ensure she could continue to excel. She ended up completing her ninth-grade year on the school honor roll.
"Tammy (ASK Fredericksburg Community Coordinator) and Jon (ASK Education Support Navigator) have been just so great,” Eden continues. “Izabella was diagnosed in June and wasn’t able to start homebound teaching until December. Tammy’s tutoring was a big part in getting Izabella through. Izabella returns to the classroom for tenth grade in August, and Jon’s been in all the meetings to make sure they are ready for her and that she has any of the accommodations that she needs.”
Since her time with ASK, Izabella has also enjoyed a number of social events and opportunities to build community with other kids and families going through the same thing. This summer, she and her family attended our annual family pool party, made friends at ASK Summer Camp, grabbed school supplies and backpack at our back-to-school event, and even threw the first pitch at a Fredericksburg Nationals game!
“ASK is who got Izabella connected with the baseball game. She got to throw out the first pitch and has become a local hero in town,” says Eden. “I take her out in public, and people stop us and say, ‘Didn’t I see you at the baseball game?’” Izabella herself was thrilled about the experience, eagerly practicing all week leading up to the game, sharing “I practiced all week!”
"Growing closer together, seeing life for what it truly is, experiencing the kindness of humanity, and growing closer in faith are some of the best things to happen since the diagnosis," Eden reflects. "Izabella is a true example of perseverance, grace, courage, and hope. Her smile alone makes the world a brighter place.”