A bright, spirited little girl with a spark all her own, Isla has always been adored for her firecracker personality. Until just a few weeks after her second birthday, she was like any other toddler—curious, playful, and full of life.

Then, late one night last October, everything changed. Isla suddenly stopped breathing, turned blue, and was rushed to Cottage Hospital’s ER. There, doctors resuscitated her with CPR and placed her on a ventilator. She spent the next 12 days fighting to recover, as scans and biopsies revealed a mediastinal mass compressing her airway, additional masses on both kidneys, and another in her abdomen. Isla was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Since then, she has faced more than most could imagine. Isla underwent surgery to have a port placed in her chest and is now in her seventh month of an intensive, two-year chemotherapy journey. Her treatment includes spinal chemotherapy, week-long hospital stays for immunotherapy, and countless trips to the oncology clinic for IV chemo.

Through it all—blood and platelet transfusions, ER visits, and long pediatric hospital stays—Isla has shown extraordinary strength. She manages her port, takes her daily medications without complaint, and bravely heads into the operating room twice a month for spinal chemo.

Simply put, Isla is remarkable. At just two and a half years old, she has endured a cardiac arrest, weeks on a ventilator, and months of relentless treatment—yet she continues to meet each day with resilience, courage, and light. Her spirit leaves her nurses, doctors, and everyone who meets her in awe.

Isla loves people. She loves the water. And she has a radiant energy that reminds everyone around her what it means to be fully, joyfully alive. Watching others paddle in her honor would bring her immeasurable joy.

We would be deeply grateful for your support of Isla as the 2026 Keiki Paddle honoree.