Meet Isabella

Isabella’s journey is nothing short of a miracle. At just five years old, she began kindergarten full of joy and energy, but soon her mother noticed that she seemed unusually tired. At first, they thought it was simply due to the change in school schedule. By December 2023, however, Isabella began complaining of pain in her right leg. Multiple visits to doctors and hospitals offered little clarity—she was sent home with Tylenol and reassurances that it was likely “growing pains.” But her pain worsened, she stopped walking, lost her appetite, and her parents knew something was very wrong.

Their persistence eventually led them to St. Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia, where on December 27, 2023, Isabella was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Treatment began immediately, and while the first week seemed hopeful, things quickly took a devastating turn. In January, Isabella developed a severe blood infection that caused her body to collapse. For ten heartbreaking minutes, doctors pronounced her gone. Yet, by the grace of God, Isabella came back to life.

Her recovery was far from simple. Isabella’s heart, kidneys, lungs, and brain were gravely weakened, and she required full life support: ECMO for her heart, dialysis for her kidneys, an artificial lung and ventilator, and countless wires monitoring her brain activity. Doctors warned that if she survived, she would likely never walk, talk, or live without severe limitations. Still, against all odds, Isabella began to recover. She endured months in intensive care, a tracheostomy, and six weeks under sedation—but today, she can walk, talk, eat, play, and enjoy life with her family. Her resilience has left her medical team in awe, calling her a living miracle.

Isabella is now seven years old, a happy and loving child who enjoys dancing, helping her mom around the house, shopping, going to the beach, or sharing ice cream with her brothers. She adores kittens and is the heart of her family of six—dad David, mom Astrid, her older brother Derekc, middle brother Jeremías, Isabella herself, and their dog Oreo. Without family nearby in this country, faith has been their greatest strength through such a difficult process.

The Fightstrong Foundation was honored to meet Isabella and her family, and to bring some joy into their home. We donated a Meta Quest 3 and a Samsung 55" TV, gifts that will allow Isabella and her siblings to laugh, play, and create fun memories together. Seeing her smile is a reminder of why we do what we do—because every moment of joy matters in the fight against cancer. We love her, and we are so grateful to be part of her story.