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Isla, Lily, Paige and Marieli
The Ride Janie Ride Foundation would like to introduce to you our 2023 recipients. It is our honor to have them as part of the Ride Janie Ride family. Continue scrolling to read each of their biographies. Ride Janie Ride would like to thank all of those who nominated individuals. We will not forget any of the nominees and hope that they may be part of Ride Janie Ride in the future.
Isla
Isla is a 3-year-old, sassy little thing (I swear this is what will get her through this).
On May 20, 2022, our lives were turned upside down and inside out when her pediatrician sent us for a head CT of her sinus. What we thought were allergies, we now thought was an abscess. My whole world came crashing down around me in a tiny ER room, when she was quickly diagnosed with stage 4/group 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma. Her cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes and lungs and within a week of diagnosis her eye became affected by the tumor as well, causing permanent loss of vision in her left eye. Due to the eye being affected she needed to start chemo and radiation urgently, which unfortunately wasn’t enough to save her sight. She has completed 33 radiation treatments, the absolute most her little body is allowed, and will complete 42 weeks of chemo over a years’ time.
Throughout this journey, Isla has remained strong and silly. Her resilience is unmatched, and I am completely in awe of her every minute.
She is so kind, and compassionate, she worries about me more than she complains or cries or feels sorry for herself. She is so small, but I look up to her so much. She's a true superhero, in a pint-sized body. Due to medical issues that I have, I chose to become pregnant on my own with the help of a donor. I never imagined the bond that that child and I would have. From the beginning, our journey has not been an easy one, and we continue to be tested, but our love for each other and the love from our family, friends, and all of you, keep us going. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Thank you, again, so much!Danielle & Isla Dorsey
Lily
We went for an appointment at the eye specialist, and our hearts dropped when we heard that he wanted to send us over to Lurie’s Oncology department. That day I received a call from our TEAM of doctors at Luries, they scheduled our appointment the next business day.
We went to our next appointment at Luries, and they explained what they were looking for: Neuroblastoma. If you don’t know what Neuroblastoma is, it is a very rare childhood cancer that develops in nerve tissue. That day, Lily was examined because her motor skills were being delayed, her right hand was stuck in a fist, and her pupils were not the same size. They scheduled her first Cat Scan and MRI, for Monday, August 22, 2022.
On August 22, 2022, Lily had her first set of scans. Midway through the first scan, all of her doctors ran out & pulled me into the first room they saw. They spit out so much information. I don’t remember much of what they said, but I do know they needed to act quickly to ensure Lily the best odds to win her battle.
On August 22, 2022 Lily started her first round of chemotherapy. The urgency to start the chemo that very same day, was because the main mass had been pressing on her spinal cord. When starting chemo, there’s a small chance tumors may shift. In Lily’s case, she could not eat for 24hrs, because if the mass shifted she would have needed emergency surgery.
It’s now January 2023, Lily is seven rounds in and just finished her third set of scans (MIBG & CAT). Her next set of scans of in February, Lily continues to fight this with a resilience and grace that no baby should have to possess.
Alyiah is a 23 year old single mom doing the very best she can- which isn't easy in the best of circumstances. She isn't able to work due to the volume and uncertainty of Lily's appointment schedules and hospital stays. Trying to manage getting to and from appointments by herself with no means of transportation. Imagine trying to lug a 50Lb carseat, diaper bag, and belongings for the 4 day stay at the hospital along with trying to carry the baby! That's what this single mama does every week.
Paige
Paige is our intelligent, fiercely independent, bold and loving three year old daughter and sister to big brother Declan (5). On April 4, 2021, our world was completely upended when our sweet girl was diagnosed with high risk B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 18 months old. In an instant, normal family life changed and the focus turned to doing whatever was needed for Paige. Paige has had over ten inpatient stays at Ann &x; Robert H. Lurie hospital, as well as two ambulance rides, hundreds of clinic visits, chemo infusions, pokes, lumbar punctures, transfusions and countless at home medications.
Being in the world of childhood cancer is devastating. It feels like a movie where you are standing completely still and everyone around you continues to move throughout life as normal. It has felt especially isolating dealing with this during a pandemic. I specifically remember a few days after Paige’s diagnosis crying in the hallway at Lurie’s sure we would go into medical bankruptcy and lose everything but knowing we’d do anything to help Paige, no matter the cost. Thankfully, the support of our family, friends and complete strangers has helped us throughout this entire process so that we have been able to focus on Paige’s ongoing treatment and keep our family going through this incredibly difficult time. She truly is #powerfulpaigey
