Litchfield girl celebrates cancer recovery milestone

Every September, National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the challenges faced by children battling cancer and the families who support them. This month serves as a reminder of the importance of research, funding and community support in the fight against pediatric cancers.

Isabella is an three-year-old who has shown resilience during her cancer treatment. Amanda Lopez, Isabella’s mother, describes her as a smart, spunky and energetic kid who loves her family, music, dancing, painting, baking, cooking, everything make-up and arts and crafts. Isabella is the youngest daughter in a Litchfield Park family of five.

In February 2023, Isabella ended up in the pediatric intensive care unit at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She had a tumor in her stomach pushing up against her organs, and her kidneys had stopped working. Isabella had rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer that primarily affects children and develops from the cells that eventually form skeletal muscles.

“It was the most heart-breaking moment in our lives when we were told she was being rushed from the emergency room to the ICU due to a huge tumor in her abdomen,” said Juan Melgarejo, Isabella’s father. “It felt like our world just stopped while everyone else’s kept going. No one is ever ready to hear your child has cancer, we never thought this could happen to us.”

Lopez is a pharmacy technician who trained at Phoenix Children’s Hospital before moving to adult medicine.

“As a pharmacy tech, I have seen the side effects these heavy medications have on children and how it takes a toll on their little body’s both physically and mentally,” Lopez said. “It scared me that my own child was going to experience that.”

Rhabdomyosarcoma is characterized by rapid growth, and Isabella had to undergo aggressive treatment. As of June 2023, radiation therapy became a part of Isabella’s daily routine. She went through anesthesia 33 times to receive radiation while still receiving daily chemotherapy.

In early September, during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Isabella celebrated a milestone by ringing a bell at the hospital to mark the end of her daily treatments. She continues physical and occupational therapy and has surgeries ahead.

“Isabella really does shine bright. We can’t imagine where we would be without her,” Melgarejo said. “Her resilience, grace and strength to everything she has been faced with is admirable.”

Despite advancements in treatment over the last 50 years, cancer remains a leading cause of disease-related death among children and receives a small percentage of National Cancer Institute research funding dedicated to pediatric cancers.

Phoenix Children’s Foundation is promoting a “Step Up. Stop Cancer” campaign, which will match donations up to $50,000 until Sept. 30.

This initiative aims to assist patients and families at the Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Visit phoenixchildrensfoundation.org for donation information.