I wish to be an actor
Isabella
cardiac condition
Isabella's Alumni Story
A life-long heart condition brought Isabella to Make-A-Wish. She found strength in her wish and now helps to make more wishes come true.
I want to show other kids that they can do whatever they want, even with an illness.
Isabella
Wish granted 2020
These days, Isabella is a mostly typical college student, balancing studying and fun and learning about living on her own. What’s not typical are the challenges she’s faced to get there and the continued vigilance to maintain her heath.
Born with only half of a functioning heart, Isabella has endured more than 80 procedures and surgeries. She had her 17th birthday in the hospital and was frequently in pain.
“No one had this kind of thing going on their life and it felt isolating,” Isabella shared. “I was in chronic pain, and it felt like no one understood. Make-A-Wish was very good for me, it broke that cycle and showed me what my life could be even though I was sick.”
As part of her wish, Isabella had a photo shoot for official headshots.
Isabella loves acting and taking part in theater productions. It was an outlet for her when she was sick since she was unable to participate in sports. She told Make-A-Wish about her wish to be an actor and in 2020 her wish was granted. Make-A-Wish arranged for her to have her professional headshots done, and then over several days she was able visit with several casting agencies in Chicago.
“It was so fun, and they took me around in a limo. Even though I wasn’t feeling great, I didn’t think about being sick.”
In 2021, she received a new heart, though her medical struggles continued. It took Isabella a year to feel better. She experienced serious organ rejection and required chemotherapy post-transplant. She’s now doing better but doctors continue to work on finding the right combination of medicine to keep her strong.
Since her wish, Isabella and her mom have both become active in the Make-A-Wish alumni community. Her mother Amy sits on the board of directors for Make-A-Wish America. Both Isabella and Amy speak often to groups or media about the importance and lasting impact of wishes for children with critical illness.
Last year, Isabella joined Make-A-Wish Illinois’ urban rappelling fundraiser, Over the Edge, with her mom and one of the Make-A-Wish volunteers who helped plan her wish. They were all excited about wishing it forward and helping even more wishes come true.
“I want to show other kids that they can do whatever they want, even with an illness,” Isabella said. “Sometimes that illness may drag you down, it doesn’t have to stop you from doing the things you want to do.”