Izzy Update from her Mother

If you note some tension in my sister's words here, it's due to the fact that lies and misinformation persist on the internet regarding her daughter, Izzy.  I'm hoping those who continue to Google about Izzy will find themselves here to read the truth:

"Ok ~ Here it goes ~ Izzy is doing VERY WELL. She's going to school each week and walking with 2 legs like a pro. Not that it's anybody's business, but Izzy IS NOT getting hospice care nor has she been at the hospital recently. For those who didn't quite understand my post before ~ I'm gonna say it one more time ~ My Almighty God from up above is taking extremely good care of Me and My Daughter. Izzy has no tubes or IVs running through her, no doctors or nurses giving chemo, no wheelchairs to depend upon and no excuses to prevent her from living the life she wants to live. Each day the Lord takes her hand and gives her the strength, happiness, and faith she needs to lead a good life. Please don't destroy that by letting pure ignorance take over your mouth. Understand?!"  JC McManaway, Izzy's mother, posted on Facebook this evening, 12.20.2011

If you are one wishing to learn the truth, please share this with your message boards and community outreach groups.  Also, for those who have inquired about sending Christmas cards, thank you for your goodwill, but receiving 1,000,000 cards was never Izzy's request.  They currently have enough mail to go through for a year : )

Izzy: Post-Surgery Update

Izzy with her sister, Zoe, just before surgery yesterday.

Izzy's surgery took place yesterday, on Tuesday, May 10th and was successful. Her left leg was amputated just above the knee and the surgeon was very pleased with how everything went. He was satisfied that the skin graft will heal in such a way as to facilitate fitting for a prosthetic in only a few weeks! That is remarkable to me.

Izzy's attitude has been amazing --Jenny said that is the evidence of so many, many prayers! Izzy is accepting of this, understands that her leg was bad and that she needed a new one. Her talk is all positive and forward looking. She has asked many questions about her new leg but has never said anything sad or longing for her old leg. I credit her parents for preparing her so well and the loving mercy of God.

When Izzy came out of the recovery room yesterday and they were directed to her hospital room for the night, they were happily surprised to receive the largest room the hospital had to offer -- and what's more, it was decorated from end-to-end with one of Izzy's favorite people: Justin Bieber! There were posters, balloons, streamers,... Jenny said it was beautifully done; so thoughtful! God bless those who go out of their way to bring a ray of sunshine into the life of another.

I am currently awaiting news from Jenny -- she told me yesterday that if all went well, they may be able to come home today. That sounded incredible to me, but that's what she said. Her pain is being managed with morphine and lortab and even under these types of drugs, Izzy has been talkative, fully coherent and even laughing at times. ♥

She is in God's hands.

Thanks to all the prayer warriors out there, for the surgeon and my dad as well as Izzy. The effect of your prayers is clearly seen. Please continue to remember them.

Glory to God for all things †

Izzy Update - March 2011

Our lil’ trooper continues to amaze! On Tuesday, March 1, 2011 Izzy had another surgery in order to remove tissue that had surrounded the recurring tumor back in October 2010. This is an area just behind her left knee. The surgery was recommended by Dr. Paul from Ruby Memorial not because he suspected a recurrence of cancer, but as a precautionary measure. The surgeon indicated that if a recurrence might happen, it would be in the tissue closest to the earlier tumor. She came through just fine and the surgeon was pleased at what had been accomplished. Izzy experienced some pain immediately afterwards, but yesterday I talked with her on the phone and she sounded her normal happy self -- telling me all about the “cast” (it’s really just a firm soft wrap) on her leg and that her daddy bought her a cane to help with walking. Jenny says the doctors want her to use the leg and put weight on it right away, even though she can’t bend her knee just yet.

Last night my dad visited with her at home and together they did the Cha Cha Slide ..! Cancer can’t keep this kid down. Just last week, prior to the surgery, she had her debut as mascot for the Mountain View Christian School Patriots (pictured above) and loved every minute of it. With such a warm and loving bunch of girls to cheer with, how could she not? Everyone at Mountain View cheers this girl on and remembers her regularly in prayer; we’re thankful for such a blessed environment at our school.

And thankful to ALL of You out there who remember Izzy and her family in your prayers. We know we’ve got a world of support out there with many prayer warriors lifting her up to our Heavenly Father daily. A mere thank you seems so little, but know that we remember you also in our prayers to God.

Izzy will be continuing her regularly scheduled chemo in two or three weeks, as the healing of her leg dictates. The doctors expect her to recover just fine from this recent surgery and have full use of her leg.

In other news, the Quigley’s, of charitable organization, Timmy’s Fund, have created a new page for Izzy; check it out here. The Quigley family and their incredible organization have been a tremendous help to Jenny and her family as well as many other children with cancer at Ruby Memorial Hospital. Their mission began through heartache, after losing their own son to medulla blastoma in December 2004. The Quigley’s radiate the love of God and represent everything good in the human heart, illustrating Romans 8:28 perfectly. May God continue to bless your efforts, Mr. & Mrs. Quigley; you are shining lights on this earth.