Where are they now? | Isabell

Empowerment, healing and hope: Three things wish kid Isabell found throughout her wish journey and three things she hopes to give back to others enduring overwhelming odds by having her story shared.

When Isabell was just four-years-old she was diagnosed with an uncommon autoimmune disorder that left her quite debilitated at times. Much of her childhood and early adult life was spent at the doctor’s office and adapting to her condition. Isabel’s mother, Michelle, recalls taking her daughter to receive infusions every two weeks and her daughter being confined to a wheelchair for two years because of her autoimmune disorder.

“From the time of her diagnosis and up until today, there has been a significant learning curve,” stated Michelle. “With a disorder such as Isabel’s, you start off with the basics of how to treat it. As time goes on, it gets a little more complicated as the disease progresses until you reach a point of normalcy with the disorder.”  

Although this was hardly the ideal situation for Isabell and her family, she proved to be and remains a spunky, independent young woman. Isabell found strength to fight her condition through her faith and the relationships she formed with the many doctors, nurses and therapists that cared for her at the infusion center over the years.

When Isabell found out her wish was coming true, she knew it was an opportunity she could not pass up. Her mother recalls the wish process being seamless. “I was very impressed with Make-A-Wish as a whole. The people who came to meet with Isabell and guide her through the wish process were great and they treated Isabell like a normal teenager and did not let her condition dictate who they perceived her to be.” Isabell wished to do something suitable for an independent teenager; however, was something that her whole family could enjoy together. This idea led her and her family on a whirlwind adventure in Rome. From the delicious gelato to the breathtaking scenery, Isabell’s wish was everything she could have hoped for.

During Isabell’s wish, she had one monumental experience that changed the trajectory of her condition and her future. While waiting for one of their scheduled tours in Rome, she and her family spotted a man with a walking device that immediately caught their attention. Due to Isabel’s condition, her arms are permanently locked at a 90-degree angle preventing her from using conventional walkers or braces. The walking device they spotted in Rome would allow Isabell more freedom to move around and ultimately more independence overall. Upon returning home from the wish, Isabell’s family reached out to her therapists about the walking device they had seen on their trip in hopes of acquiring something similar for their daughter. The company that originally provided Isabell’s walking brace was able to create a new and improved custom-built walking device for the hopeful teenager.

Isabel endured several surgeries in her lifetime due to her progressive disease. After being confined to a wheelchair for two years, the process to start walking again seemed extensive and left Isabell’s parents unsure about what their daughter’s future would hold. However, they were hopeful in the new walking device’s capabilities.

“When Isabell saw the possibility of walking again in this modified way, that made it easier for her. That really offered her hope,” Michelle said.

Not long after her wish was granted, Isabell started college. She never let her condition slow her down or stop her from pursuing her interests. The experiences she had in Rome and her new walking device provided her with the confidence she needed to transition into the new stage in her life.

Isabell’s mother recalls how the wish experience altered her daughter's mindset and future. She feels that her daughter’s independence to go out on her own was a direct response to her wish and opened more doors that may not have been opened for her before. “Isabell was always a strong individual on her own but her wish experience definitely helped her confidence.”

Michelle chooses to share her daughter’s journey in hopes of bringing awareness to the mission of Make-A-Wish and encouraging others to support the organization that provided such a life-changing experience for her daughter.

 “I wish that everyone who contributed to Isabell’s wish experience knew how much it impacted her. By sharing Isabell’s journey, I hope to inspire others to support the mission of Make-A-Wish and understand the significance of their contributions.”

The walking device that Isabell received after her wish to Rome gave her a feeling of empowerment and hope to chase her dreams and provided a sense of emotional healing for her and her family. Isabell is currently studying abroad in South Korea and excelling in her studies. She is passionate about learning Korean and conducting research on Dark Skies Studies to better help our environment.

Isabell’s journey serves as an example of the impact of a wish. Whether a child chooses to go, to meet, to have, or to be, the wish impact stretches far beyond a single moment in time. Wishes have the power to transcend for years to come.