We’re turning pain into purpose
That’s how Rosie describes the mission of Isabella’s Warriors, a movement born from the strength and legacy of her daughter, Isabella.
Isabella was a vibrant, funny, and deeply compassionate young woman who left an indelible mark on those around her. She loved to read and dance, had a quick wit, and a knack for delivering dad jokes with perfect timing. She found joy in making others laugh, often at her own expense. “She had a good soul. She was always smiling, always putting others first,” says Rosie.
She was also a dreamer. She had set her sights on teaching English in South Korea and was finishing her certification, saving up, and updating all her health checks to make that happen.
In December 2022, Isabella went for a routine eye exam as part of her preparation to teach abroad. Isabella’s optometrist noticed blood behind her eyes. Often an early sign of diabetes, her doctor ordered blood work. The test results suggested something more alarming than diabetes. On January 23, Isabella received an urgent call while at work that she needed to get to the hospital immediately. Within hours, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a form of blood cancer, and transferred to Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre to begin treatment.
From the moment of her diagnosis, Isabella faced an uphill battle. The treatment plan was grueling. She endured the painful lumbar punctures, the side effects of chemotherapy, multiple bone marrow aspirations and biopsies, a major blood clot in her brain and the endless hospital visits with fierce determination. When she was told she was in remission after the first phase of treatment, there was hope. But then came another blow when doctors discovered a chromosomal abnormality that made relapse almost inevitable. A stem cell transplant would be the best option to prevent the cancer’s return.
It was then that Isabella’s family and friends sprang into action.
“This is the first time for a lot of her friends experiencing somebody so close to them being diagnosed and then having to go through transplant,” remembers Rosie. “But instead of shutting down, they rallied.”
They launched a campaign to support patients just like Isabella by encouraging their networks to donate blood, get on the stem cell donor registry, and donate to support Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre. Friends, family, and even strangers stepped up. Isabella’s story spread, inspiring hundreds to take action.
Shortly before Isabella’s transplant, they held a football tournament that raised over $14,000! Then, Isabella’s parents topped up the donation to make it an even $15,000.
On July 20, 2023, Isabella received her stem cell transplant – a day her family called her “rebirthday.” But the journey didn’t get easier. Complications arose almost immediately. The transplant didn’t fully graft, leading to a series of devastating health challenges, including a relentless condition known as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which attacked her gastrointestinal system as well as her liver. She endured nine hospital admissions, totaling 188 days, each one more challenging than the last. “The hospital became our home for a long time,” says Rosie. “And the staff became our family.”
Despite her suffering, Isabella remained a fighter. Even when the illness took a toll on her mental health, she pressed forward. She longed for normalcy, for days filled with reading, dancing, laughter, and planning for her future. But the battle was relentless, and on March 14, 2024, Isabella passed away. She was only 23.
Her mother Rosie, father Nick, brother Johnny, and all those who loved Isabella refuse to let her story end in sorrow. They have turned their pain into purpose, carrying forward the mission of Isabella’s Warriors to support those battling cancer. Their most recent undertaking, a golf tournament in 2024 and 2025, raised $9,000 and more than $10,000 respectively. Her dance studio also fundraised and launched a scholarship in her honour. Her light, humour, and kindness remain a guiding force for all who knew her and all who have been inspired to fight in her name.