PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — After two long years of treatment, a 13-year-old Cranston girl has beat cancer. In 2022, Izabelle Major was diagnosed with Leukemia.
In 2023, NBC 10’s Sam Read did a story with ‘Izzy’ that went viral.
She was given a gifted a golden retriever puppy that she named ‘Baxter’ after the machine that gave her chemo medicine.
“Baxter has been such a great addition to our family to our treatment journey,” said Marilyn Martins, Izzy’s mom. “There was one night Izabelle was not feeling good whatsoever and the dog wasn’t acting himself, he was being quite bad actually, and I didn’t understand what he was trying to tell me and then that night we ended up in the ER so he knew that she wasn’t feeling good up to the point where we had to go to the ER.”
Fortunately for Izzy, trips to Hasbro Children’s Hospital will be far and few between moving forward.
Monday marked her last treatment, and now, she’s cancer-free.
“Twenty-five months and I did not think this day was going to come but it did,” said Martins. “It has been a long, I know it’s strange to say amazing journey, but, the team here at Hasbro has made it such an easy process that we’re just excited to finally ring that bell and walk out.”
“I’m just so excited to ring the bell I can’t wait, I’m ready to be done,” said Major.
Around 9 a.m., dozens of Izzy’s family and friends lined the entrance to the hospital.
Izzy was brought to her final treatment in a limo, courtesy of Enzo’s Escorts, a statewide police and fire organization that offers children in Rhode Island VIP escorts to and from their home on their last day of cancer treatment.
“Izzy was so excited. I think this is the second time she’s been in a limo. She’s like, ‘I’m loving this.”’ said Martins.
“It was a dream I was like, ‘I can’t believe this is really happening,”’ said Major. “I’m just so grateful I have all these amazing people, the cops, everyone here supporting me, it’s just amazing.”
For Martins, reflecting on the last 25 months of being by her daughter’s side brings up a lot of emotions.
“The highs and lows the sadness, the tears, some disappointment. We want to do something and we can’t do it, now, we can’t wait to do those things like get a pedicure and eat sushi, I think she still has to wait a few months to eat sushi,” said Martins. “But without all the support, that constant reassurance, the positive messages, it would’ve been hard, it would be hard for anyone.”
Major went in for her final appointment at 10:30 a.m. The room she was in was decorated with congratulatory signs.
Staff at Hasbro Children’s Hospital waited for her in the waiting room with a song titled ‘ Izabelle’s End of Chemo Song.’
It was a rendition of Taylor swifts song, ’15’ for the 13-year-old fan. In sync, staff sang it to her while she was headed on her way out.
“I’m going to miss them. I’m really going to miss these nurses because they’re so amazing. They’ve helped me so much, but I’m so excited,” said Major. “ I can’t wait to get back to dance, I mean, I’ve tried to live my life as normal as I possibly could, but just getting back to doing what I love and being on the stage will be great.”
“I’ll never forget a story last year where this little girl said she’s going to miss it, and I didn’t know what she meant by it then, but I do now,” said Martins. “They’re just a part of our family, they’ll always be a part of our family.”
Izzy ‘rang the bell’ and paraded through the hospital’s hallway while her supporters cheered for her in excitement.
She said this summer she plans to do ‘normal’ things, and is eager to put this behind her.
“The courage and strength it takes for any child to battle this, man, I tell people you never want to get into a ring with them because they’ll take you down and I truly believe that,” said Martins. “My daughter, I think she’s stronger than I am because anyone who has to go through this, they are stronger.”
“I was strong all the way through. I had my mom, and so many people who supported me, but my mom, you know, she’s lifted me up. I talk to her during my bad days and my good days, and she’s been with me through it all,” said Major. “I would say to other sick kids, just trust yourself, just believe in yourself . I remember I would always say to myself ‘you’re going to be ok, you’re going to be fine.”’