Izzy

Izzy Jakubowski died early Sunday morning 1/28 in the comfort of her home, peacefully with her Mom, brother, stepdad, and beloved pets nearby. Her strong preference had been to spend the end of her life at home rather than in the hospital, and her family was able to honor her wish with the assistance and support of Providence Hospice.
In the 20 months since her initial rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis and through the arduous treatments, recurrences, progression, and the brutal complications she endured, Izzy, among many other admirable feats: finished her junior and senior years of high school, attended all her senior year milestone events, started college, invested in deep and special romantic relationships, traveled to the Midwest to visit elderly relatives (even making sure to buy and wrap special presents and write cards for them), checked off items on her bucket list (including getting a matching tattoo with her Mom), and even ordered gifts for her family on Amazon a few days ago, requesting that they wait to open them until after her death, and including personal notes with each one.
Her devoted Mom, Nicole, loved Izzy ferociously; she promised Izzy she would never leave her alone on this journey, and she kept this promise, advocating for her the best ways she knew how day in and day out. Nicole blended everything from birthday cake to holiday meals to veggie-filled nutritious concoctions to whatever favorite comfort foods Izzy could think of into her tube; if that’s not cooking with love, I don’t know what is. Izzy and Nicole were exceptionally close- able to push each other’s buttons and also able to say just the right thing at truly the most-needed times- they “got” each other like no other.
Our CHOC Oncology Family will never forget Izzy- her memory is a blessing. Izzy is forever with us!