October, 2019 - Isabella Santos Foundation

Isabella Santos Foundation 2019 Pumpkin Charity Ball Raises $220,000 for Pediatric Cancer

October 27, 2019/in ISF Events, ISF News & Updates/by Rachel Wood

Our 2nd Annual Pumpkin Charity Ball was a huge success! A special thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated, and supported! It was an AMAZING night filled with great love, abundant generosity and true inspiration from so many in attendance. Through the support of all of our guests, auction bidders (near and far) and sponsors, we are thrilled to announce that the night raised close to $220,000!! We cannot thank each and every person who helped make this night the success that it was. We were especially honored to have some of our smallest warriors there to help us make an impact. We appreciate you sharing your personal stories, difficult struggles and your precious families with us, while we continue to fight the fight, together.

If you missed out on this year, don’t worry! Save the date for next year: October 24th, 2020. See you there

Neuroblastoma Patient Successfully Completes MIBG Therapy in Charlotte

October 11, 2019/in ISF MIBG, ISF MIBG Ambassador, ISF News & Updates/by Rachel Wood

Another patient was successfully treated in the Isabella Santos Foundation MIBG therapy room at Levine Children’s. As a child and family enter MIBG treatment they receive a gift basket specifically paid for by last year’s ISF MIBG Ambassador fundraising efforts. Patients stay in the MIBG room 3-7 days after they receive their injection with parents/caregivers in the adjoining room, so our hope is that these baskets help bring a little comfort in their time away from their own home.

If you look closely at the note, this MIBG basket is thanks to Tim McBride… also known as McBeast! Thanks to Tim and his supporters, we were able to provide a few comfort items, snacks, toys and gift cards for food, gas, coffee, and more.

Levine Children’s Hospital is 1 of 20 hospitals to have a MIBG Treatment room in the U.S. and the only location in the Charlotte region. The two-room MIBG suite provides targeted radiation to pediatric neuroblastoma patients with minimal side effects. This therapy impacts kids fighting cancer beyond the greater Charlotte region and will eventually expand to include adults with rare tumors.

2019 ISF Run & Brunch 5K for Kids Cancer Helps Bring in $230,000 for Pediatric Cancer

October 7, 2019/in ISF 5K/10K, ISF Events, ISF News & Updates/by Rachel Wood

This year’s ISF 5K, 10K & Fun Run for Kids Cancer presented by Red Ventures was extra special with our yummy brunch provided by Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and NoDa Brewing Company! A huge thank you to our brunch sponsors for cooking up the most delicious post-race meal. Keep a look-out for next year’s menu! During the month of September we were able to raise just over $230,000! We couldn’t have done it without YOU!

Thank you to the businesses that made this new feature possible and who give consistently give so much back to our community…

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill went over the top to make sure brunch was like no other brunch you have ever seen! Gourmet brunch actually! The thought and time their Chef and team put into this event was impressive. The food options were scrumptious! Thank you to their team and family who planned, cooked and served their hearts out! Make sure you stop into one of their several restaurants for lunch or dinner around town… and let them know how good brunch was when you do!

Is there such a thing as ‘Cool Bar Setup’? If so, Tito’s Handmade Vodkaran away with it for sure! Tito’s also presented us with a $10,000 check at the beginning of the race which was a dollar for dollar match through the annual 106.5 The End The Woody and Wilcox Show Purple Ticket fundraiser. Tito’s has been so good to us over the years and we couldn’t be more appreciative of their support and partnership. We all drink no other vodka brand now… and hope you think about how companies give back when you make purchases.

It’s hard to express what the NoDa Brewing Company family means to our foundation. No matter what event we have, no matter what we are doing… they are right by our side supporting, giving our team words of encouragement and sending us notes of appreciation. NoDa not only brought out plenty of NoDa beer & spiked seltzer selections, but they brought out a huge group of their NoDa run crew. Having this family part of our special day gave us the chills. Thank you to every single member of the NoDa family for showing up big in Ballantyne. Next time you stop into the brewery, give them a thanks for all that they do!

The best part of this new brunch… we watched all our supporters run/walk together as friends and family. And then watched you all visit, laugh, hug and catch up over good food and drinks. That definatley was the icing on the donut! What a perfect day!

Next fall will be here before you know it, so SAVE THE DATE! September 26, 2020

Through My Eyes: Final Results

October 3, 2019/in ISF News & Updates, Through My Eyes: This is Childhood Cancer 2019/by Rachel Wood

Through My Eyes is a series in which those affected by childhood cancer share a behind-the-scenes look into what it’s like to be in their shoes. Read every perspective. Become aware and donate to help create solutions for kids fighting rare pediatric cancer.

Remember, it’s not about a month or a gold ribbon…

It’s about Isabella who fought neuroblastoma 5 times and ultimately lost her fight at age 7.

It’s about Madison who just relapsed from osteosarcoma when a tumor was found in her lungs. First time diagnosed, cancer was found in her femur. 6 years old.

It’s about Corey who is fighting stage 4 ewings sarcoma and the doctors recently discovered another spot on his pelvis. 20 years old.

It’s about Merritt who is enduring 42 weeks of chemo due to rhabdomyosarcoma. 2 years old.

It’s about Nicholas who just had a hip replacement because osteosarcoma was found in his bones and lungs for a 2nd time. First time diagnosed, cancer was found in his knee.17 years old.

It’s about Brinn who just finished radiation and moves into phase 3 of her neuroblastoma treatment. 2 years old.

It’s about Max who just learned he is in remission from neuroblastoma, but still has a long road ahead of him with immunotherapy and therapy for how the drugs have affected his mind and body. 3 years old.

It’s about Mackenzie who was diagnosed with DIPG and the doctors gave her 12-18 months to live. 3 years old.

It’s about all the other kids fighting cancer past and present.

It’s about all their moms and dads who would change places with their child fighting cancer in a heartbeat. Just to remove their pain.

It’s about all the siblings who have been affected by cancer just as much. And forced to watch their brothers and sisters suffer like no-one should.

It’s about all the caregivers and loved ones who silently cook meals, do laundry and bring comfort to kids, young adults and their families fighting.

It’s about all the oncology nurses, child life specialists, pediatric oncologists and everyone on these kid’s cancer care teams invested in their childhood cancer fight day and night.

It’s about listening and being aware.

It’s about bringing kids with cancer hope.

It’s about funding more treatment options.

It’s about ultimately finding a cure.

Thank you for listening, engaging and sharing this month. Thank you for donating. In the month of September, we raised $26,499.95 through the cancer warrior #ThroughMyEyes perspectives. We reached over 300,000 people on social media. We will continue to bring you updates on not only these kids, families and loved ones, but many more. Please continue to listen, engage and share. We count on you to help us open as many eyes as possible.

#ThisIsChildhoodCancer

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*** THROUGH MY EYES: THIS IS CHILDHOOD CANCER SERIES

9/2: We Have Stopped Making You Aware

9/3: Through My Eyes: This is Childhood Cancer

9/3: Through My Eyes: What Cancer Leaves Behind

9/4: Through My Eyes: Day In the Life Of Kellie Andrew, Warrior Mom Fighting to Save Her Child From Neuroblastoma

9/5: Through My Eyes: Behind the Scenes with Aaron Plummer, Dad to RhabdomyosarcomaWarrior

9/6: Through My Eyes: What My Child About Cancer, What Really Scares This Cancer Mom

9/8: Through My Eyes: Week 1 Results

9/9: Through My Eyes: Behind the Mind of a Teenager Fighting Cancer & Social Anxiety

9/11: Through My Eyes: What It’s Like to be a Young Adult Living With Cancer

9/13: Through My Eyes: What It’s Like to be a Young Adult Supporting a Loved One With Cancer

9/15: Through My Eyes: Week 2 Results

9/17: Through My Eyes: Behind the Scenes With Charlotte Pediatric Oncologist, Dr. Oesterheld

9/19: Through My Eyes: What It’s Like to Help Kids Understand & Cope With a Cancer Diagnosis

9/20: Through My Eyes: What I See in Kids Fighting Cancer as a Pediatric Oncology Nurse

9/22: Through My Eyes: We Are Childhood Cancer Parents. We Are Not OK.

9/23: Through My Eyes: Behind the Minds of a Family Who is Fighting a Terminal Childhood Cancer Diagnosis

9/25: Through My Eyes: How a Little Sister’s Terminal Cancer Diagnosis Affects Siblings Too

10/3: Through My Eyes: The Day That Made Me a Childhood Cancer Advocate

Through My Eyes: The Day That Made Me a Childhood Cancer Advocate

October 3, 2019/in ISF News & Updates, Through My Eyes: This is Childhood Cancer 2019/by Rachel Wood

Through My Eyes is a series in which those affected by childhood cancer share a behind-the-scenes look into what it’s like to be in their shoes. Read every perspective. Become aware and donate to help create solutions for kids fighting rare pediatric cancer.

[#ThroughMyEyes | Rachel Wood] September 19, 2011… I accompanied Erin and Isabella to NYC for scans at Memorial Sloan Kettering. After a morning at the hospital we headed to Magnolia Bakery for a VIP baking experience… where this short clip above was taken.

In the clip you see Isabella and Erin baking cupcakes. What you don’t see is Erin’s shaking hands and the tears she is fighting hard to hold back. She had just stepped outside to take a call from the hospital asking her to come back to meet with the doctors right away.

On September 19, 2011 the Santos’ were told Isabella’s cancer had spread. It was in her head, bones, bone marrow, chest, abdomen… the disease was everywhere. The doctors explained that the surgeon would no longer operate and high dose chemo was not an option. The new disease in her head was bleeding and the immediate concern was swelling and seizures. The oncologist said to go home. Be with your family. Do things that make Isabella happy.

This is where MIBG therapy came in and gave 10 months of life and memories to Isabella and her family before she passed away from neuroblastoma on June, 28, 2012.

This NYC trip forever changed me. I don’t have a child with cancer and I don’t know what it’s like. But I watched it. I watched what it does, the pain it causes and the life it rips away. My eyes have been open to childhood cancer ever since.

Not everyone has a front row seat to the impacts of childhood cancer. I hope you are never given one. But that was my goal of the ‘Through My Eyes’ series, to help others open eyes, even a little bit, to what pediatric cancer is doing to kids, young adults and families. I normally spend quite a bit of time with cancer families, but the past 2 months I have spent that time asking the really hard questions, listening to the fears and pain. It has been the most rewarding yet most emotional taxing several months. I have talked, listened, planned, written & taken photos of cancer. I have lost sleep & dreamed about these kids and teens – awful dreams. I have gotten attached. But my emotional rollercoaster is nothing compared to what these warriors and their families go through every second of the day.

Thank you to those who opened up their hearts and homes to me specifically for this series. Thank you for letting me ask the really hard questions. Sharing awfully intimate details & thoughts. All to bring awareness to our supporters on what cancer has done. All in hopes that it will bring change.

On this last evening of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I beg of you to please not let a month or gold ribbon define awareness and action. Please continue to talk, share, volunteer, ask questions and give back.

Thank you for listening this month. We look forward to communicating how much this series raised for pediatric cancer research. If you feel moved to donate, we appreciate every penny and are humbled by your support.

Sincerly,

Rachel Wood
ISF Director of Marketing