Isabella's Story

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Our hope is this story serves as a reminder that one person can make a difference and that a little kindness can change another person's life forever. Be Kind.  #kindnesshitshome 

Alexx's Story 

I’ve been thinking about Isabella a lot and want to share my story on how she made a positive change in my life. I want to start with a little bit of my story to show the importance. Isabella and I went to Oak Creek and Churchill together, we are both from Camp Pendleton. Our dads were both Marines and I remember how proud she was of her dad as was I. I wanted to join the little Marines like her, but never got the chance to. I won’t say we were extremely close, but we were in the same friend group sometimes. 

Fast forward to middle school, I had recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. I was a very active and happy kid that got hit extremely hard <with the news> but then was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I struggled a lot with bad thoughts and isolation. I lost many friends because I was absent all the time. I was in hospice for 6th grade. In 7th grade, I met some of her friends, we would talk sometimes because we knew each other, and I got close with her best friend, so she was always around. 

One of the many things I remember is talking about our “eye twitch” thing we do, I have Sjogren’s, so I have a natural eye twitch, she said she has a similar eye twitch due to epilepsy. We bonded over the fact that people tend to make fun of us both for it. I got a little closer to her. This was the peak of my depression. My doctors told me I would have to use a wheelchair at 16 because of the severity of my arthritis. I got tired of listening to doctors and I wanted to join a sport. I was talking to Isabella, and she said join cross country with me and my friend! I said I’m not good at running and most likely can’t, and she told me you can just run with me. I joined! After many years of struggling with severe pain and physical therapy I took the jump doctors really did not recommend… flash forward … I heard the horrible news. 

The night of the event my friend, lived on her street, we were playing video games together and he told me there were ambulances at her house and we logged off for the night. We were planning on asking her if everything was okay the day after. The horrible news hit in the morning, and I took it extremely rough, at the time. I didn’t realize what she helped me do, which was overcome what doctors said I couldn’t. 

Now back to the present day, I body build, it’s my hobby now.  I am moving and more active than any doctor told me I ever will be, they always told me I will be unhealthy and struggle a lot. I take no medications anymore and stay active. I think about her a lot in terms of if I never took that jump and didn’t have her invitation to join her running, would I be where I am now? Every time I feel physically amazing, I will always think of Isabella. 

I’m glad she accompanied me with that sport because at that time I also had extreme anxiety issues, and I still struggle with mental health to this day. I am glad I met Isabella, it was a breath of fresh air, I felt very alienated in school because of my health and my depression. It ruined many things for me. But I had someone next to me that was born where I was born, dad was also a Marine and also had TMJ! She told me that one day and I was like, me too! I didn’t feel so alone and alienated. 

It’s the small things you do in life that can change another’s entire life. I never realized it before, but I’d love to thank her parents for raising a great kid that potentially saved another kid’s life. I struggled with suicidal ideation too and was the reason why I left high school because of how mean the kids were < there>. 

I will always think about her and will always tell people of the great Isabella Scott that got me to take care of my body and love a sport which I never saw myself doing again back then. 

~Love, Alexx Whitfield

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Thank You Alexx

Thank you Alexx for being so brave and sharing your story. We are grateful to hear such an amazing memory of Isabella. We know she would be so very proud and happy you are doing so well.  We wish you the very best and continued success. 

~Love, Lilly & Blaine Scott, and The Isabella Foundation Board