Meet Izzy

When our daughter, Isabelle, was diagnosed with Trisomy 13, the world offered us a very dark, limited script. We faced a heavy road of medical bias, denial of care, and the exhaustion of traveling far from home just to find doctors who would see her value and fight for her life. There were moments when the weight of the medical world felt overwhelming. But Izzy had a completely different story to write.

Today, at nearly seven years old, Izzy is the absolute light of our lives. She is brilliant, tenacious, and has a sheer vigor for life that leaves us in constant awe. Where the medical books predicted limitations, we are constantly encouraged and amazed by everything she can do. She has a beautiful, fierce will, and an even bigger capacity for love.

Through every trial, our mentality towards life has been completely transformed. We have seen firsthand how God turns the world’s definitions upside down. Where the world so often looks at medically complex children and sees a "burden," all we have ever seen is an absolute blessing. We live with an overwhelming gratitude to God for the gift that Izzy is. She has taught us to cherish every single second, to find pure joy in the milestones, and to celebrate the beautiful community we have found through The Stella Effect. Izzy is so incredibly loved, and we are so proud to watch her shine and defy the statistics every single day.

For larger donations, please donate fee-free at our PayPal Giving Fund here.