Isabella was always the light in every room. She was joyful, kind, intelligent, and always seen with a smile on her face. She was an active six year old, constantly dancing around the house and at the studio, doing gymnastics, swimming, and finding every opportunity to be independent. She enjoyed going to school and making friends, and most importantly, she absolutely loved Disney. She asked everyone to call her Bella, often adding, “Bella means beautiful in Italian.” Even at just six years old, Bella had many aspirations and dreamed of becoming a doctor when she grew up.

 

When Bella suddenly began experiencing difficulty writing at school and struggled to maintain her balance while walking, it became clear that something was wrong. She was taken to the pediatrician’s office for a checkup, which quickly became a five-day hospital stay filled with tests, MRIs, and a biopsy, ultimately confirming she had a brain tumor.

 

In January of 2013, Bella was diagnosed with a high-grade thalamic glioma, an inoperable anaplastic astrocytoma. It was a rare and highly aggressive brain tumor, and treatment options were limited. 

 

Within days, Bella’s life changed from attending school and dance classes to attending numerous doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, and tests. She received radiation for six straight weeks and several monthly rounds of chemotherapy in an attempt to shrink the tumor and reduce her symptoms, with the goal of improving her quality of life. Her tumor to remained stable for a year following treatment. However, in February of 2014, a routine MRI revealed tumor progression.

 

Due to the lack of open clinical trials and available treatment alternatives, Bella had no other option but to undergo another two weeks of radiation and several more rounds of chemotherapy in the hope of stopping further progression. Her tumor persisted, but so did she. Despite treatment and her unwavering determination, Bella lost her battle with cancer on September 26, 2014, just two months shy of her 8th birthday.

 

Through every battle, Bella never gave up. She continued to show up to school, dance, and even the hospital with a smile on her face. Giving up the things she loved was never an option for her. She was determined to continue moving, remain independent, and keep learning despite the challenges she faced. Radiation and chemotherapy came with many difficult side effects, yet Bella took every opportunity she could to make the most of each day. Bella remained the bright light in every room, bringing joy and humor to the staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and to the new friends she made in the hospital playroom.

 

Our foundation was created to honor to Bella’s unique joy for life and unwavering determination. We are dedicated to funding research, supporting programs, and raising awareness for pediatric brain cancer in order to keep Bella’s memory alive and carry her spirit forward. Through this work, we hope to reaffirm the bravery she demonstrated and inspire hope in the hearts of others, as she forever remains in ours.