Isabella’s Journey of Hope
Donation protected
Isabella’s story of hope.
Three-year-old Isabella Paturzo’s Rasmussen’s encephalitis diagnosis caused her health to rapidly deteriorate. The rare autoimmune disease, which affects only two in 10 million people, made Isabella go from a carefree child enjoying daycare and weekend activities with friends to a very sick little girl who endured double-digit seizures per day. Eventually, her seizures topped more than 100 per day.
When it became clear that Isabella’s only hope was a hemispherotomy, a radical brain surgery that disconnects one full side of the brain in an attempt to control seizure activity, her care transferred from Dayton Children’s Hospital to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Isabella underwent a hemispherotomy, the only reliable treatment for Rasmussen’s encephalitis, in March 2024. She continues to receive specialized care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Months of physical and occupational therapy are ahead for Isabella. While those who have received a hemispherotomy seem to do well in the long term, regaining strength and mobility in the short term is a challenge that requires extensive rehab and adaptive equipment, some of which will not be covered by insurance.
Despite the severity of her condition, Isabella's fierce strength – and the love and care from her family and community – continue to pave her path forward. Isabella’s family is determined to ensure that the beautiful, brave little girl has the opportunity to live a full life.
About the Paturzo family
Isabella’s father, Kevin; mother, Molly; and six-year-old sister, Ava relocated to Dayton, Ohio in 2023 for Kevin’s role as Director of IT at Life Connection of Ohio. Kevin's first-hand experience with the transformative impact of technology in healthcare, especially in organ donation, drives his dedication to saving and enhancing lives through his work at Life Connection of Ohio. Molly serves as Senior Process Improvement Manager at Kettering Health, where she leads efforts to improve processes and procedures for clinical teams and patient care. Ava is an incredible big sister who is full of patience, understanding, grace and love beyond her years. The Paturzo family’s story is a testament to resilience, love, and the importance of raising awareness and support for rare medical conditions like Rasmussen’s encephalitis.
Three-year-old Isabella Paturzo’s Rasmussen’s encephalitis diagnosis caused her health to rapidly deteriorate. The rare autoimmune disease, which affects only two in 10 million people, made Isabella go from a carefree child enjoying daycare and weekend activities with friends to a very sick little girl who endured double-digit seizures per day. Eventually, her seizures topped more than 100 per day.
When it became clear that Isabella’s only hope was a hemispherotomy, a radical brain surgery that disconnects one full side of the brain in an attempt to control seizure activity, her care transferred from Dayton Children’s Hospital to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Isabella underwent a hemispherotomy, the only reliable treatment for Rasmussen’s encephalitis, in March 2024. She continues to receive specialized care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Months of physical and occupational therapy are ahead for Isabella. While those who have received a hemispherotomy seem to do well in the long term, regaining strength and mobility in the short term is a challenge that requires extensive rehab and adaptive equipment, some of which will not be covered by insurance.
Despite the severity of her condition, Isabella's fierce strength – and the love and care from her family and community – continue to pave her path forward. Isabella’s family is determined to ensure that the beautiful, brave little girl has the opportunity to live a full life.
About the Paturzo family
Isabella’s father, Kevin; mother, Molly; and six-year-old sister, Ava relocated to Dayton, Ohio in 2023 for Kevin’s role as Director of IT at Life Connection of Ohio. Kevin's first-hand experience with the transformative impact of technology in healthcare, especially in organ donation, drives his dedication to saving and enhancing lives through his work at Life Connection of Ohio. Molly serves as Senior Process Improvement Manager at Kettering Health, where she leads efforts to improve processes and procedures for clinical teams and patient care. Ava is an incredible big sister who is full of patience, understanding, grace and love beyond her years. The Paturzo family’s story is a testament to resilience, love, and the importance of raising awareness and support for rare medical conditions like Rasmussen’s encephalitis.
Organizer and beneficiary
Simon Keith
Organizer
Las Vegas, NV
Kevin Paturzo
Beneficiary