In May 2025, my 16 month old daughter suffered an ischemic stroke on her left side that affected directly her left basal ganglia. This controls motor function, learning abilities, the hub of emotions. She was left with severe right sided weakness. After her diagnosis we were sent to Vanderbilt where we spent a month working with PT and OT. After spending the better part of the year, not knowing what caused this or how to prevent another one, at her six month follow up MRI, we got a diagnosis of MoyaMoya Disease. This is a strikingly rare disease that is progressive and degenerative. It causes narrowing of critical arteries and vessels by regenerating, premature, spontaneous blood vessels. With this diagnosis, came a little bit of peace because we finally had an answer. It also is terrifying. On January 6, she had an indirect bypass by craniotomy. They take a blood vessel from her scalp and lay it on the brain in the area that was experiencing lack of blood flow in the hopes that that blood vessel will recognize its job there and function as a normal blood vessel would to restore blood flow to that area. This was such a hard period for both me and her dad and for Isla. Recovery was tough it is April 2 and I am just now beginning to see my old girl back. We were told January 29 at our follow up with the neurosurgeon that her MoyaMoya was actually bilateral, and we needed to prepare ourselves for another surgery to the other side because now her right side is showing further narrowing. On April 14, we go back to Vanderbilt for an MRI to check that first blood vessel and see if it has done its job and is working. If all looks well, they want to be vigilant about the neck surgery. We are looking at a second craniotomy by May. This takes her dad (our only source of income at the moment) out of work for at least 3 to 4 weeks with no pay coming in. With this being the second surgery, we just want both parents to be able to be there. We know that our girl would want both of us there. This surgery is extremely intricate, with a skyrocketing chance for another stroke during and the immediate days afterwards. We’re asking mainly for prayers, but we so desperately also need our communities help. We want to make sure that her daughter can continue to see the specialists that she needs and there are several of them. Specialists that we don’t have readily available here. As of today, Isla is her spunky, fun, singing and dancing self. She loves Miss Rachel, Blippi and she loves to sing her ABC’s. My Isla has been a fighter from day one and is truly a miracle. She really is a ray of light to every single person that she comes in contact with, especially Vanderbilt’s team of service dogs.

As we start to prepare for her next trip to Vanderbilt in two weeks or so, life hit us hard. Multiple things have just not gone in our favor, leaving us without a vehicle that can safely take my family and all of the things a toddler who has had a stroke needs all the way to Nashville. If you feel it in your heart to give, this money will go directly towards a vehicle that can safely and reliably get my daughter to the healthcare professionals she needs and deserves. It will also go towards a place for me and dad to maybe have a good night sleep, a nap, or hot shower while we are down there and Isla is in the hospital. April and May are some of the busiest times for Nashville, running the prices of Airbnbs and hotels up to an almost unachievable amount. This gofundme was created to help try and get us there safely, and allow us to focus on Isla. The main reason I’m here to begin with.