2024 Interview
Danielle Dorsey, Isla’s mom
Treasure Chest Foundation
Danielle Dorsey
The Honorary Chairperson for the 12th Annual Treasuring
Our Kids Hawaiian Luau Fundraiser is five-year-old Orland
Park resident Isla Dorsey. When Isla was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, her mother Danielle knew her life would become quite different. Throughout Isla’s cancer treatments at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, the Dorsey’s have appreciated the positive effects whenever Isla has visited the Treasure Chest. The Foundation’s Board President Salvatore Cirrincione recently interviewed Danielle to gain insight into the family’s experience and was impressed with the remarkable courage they have shown in the face of adversity.
TCF
Can you tell us about the time when Isla
was diagnosed? How was her cancer initially detected?
D
In 2022 Isla developed what seemed
to be allergies. She had a constant runny
nose, watery eyes and ear infection after ear
infection. Things took a turn in May when she was taken to the pediatrician yet again. This
time her nose was bleeding daily and she had developed headaches. Her pediatrician sent
us home with an antibiotic prescription with instructions to call him and fill it in two days
if she wasn’t better. Two days later we started the meds and the next day visited the doctor again, where he noticed that the roof of her mouth felt different from the visit a few days before. We were immediately sent for a CT to rule out a sinus abscess. Isla was admitted to
the ER and it was 25 days before we would go home.
TCF
What type of treatment did Isla go through?
D
Isla received 42 weeks of intensive chemotherapy that took 52 weeks to complete. She received 33 days of photon radiation treatment that was completed urgently at the start of her treatment. After that first year she then went on to complete six more months of maintenance chemotherapy.
TCF
Can you tell us about the hospitalizations/clinic?
D
Isla’s treatment was extremely tough on her
little body. She would be hospitalized every
three weeks for chemo, and would end up
having to go back each time for days/weeks at a time for low counts and fevers. She landed in the PICU three times throughout her treatment and when she wasn’t inpatient we were in clinic two to three days a week.
TCF
What is the worst part of Isla’s treatment?
D
Our whole experience with cancer and
treatment has been pretty traumatic. We spent more time in the hospital due to chemo effects than we did at home for the first year. Chemo was so tough on her that she did not eat by mouth for that year, requiring her to be tube
fed. That tube caused a lot of pain and trouble for her. Isla lost the vision in her left eye due to the tumor causing damage to her optic nerve. Then in November of 2022 she developed a severe mastoid infection that required two emergency surgeries and caused her to lose hearing in her left ear. I almost lost her during that time.
TCF
What is the best part, if there is a good part,
of the clinic/hospital?
D
She really enjoys the fish tanks!
TCF
Can you tell me about the Treasure Chest
at the hospital?
D
The Treasure Chest at our hospital is so great! They have a cute toy chest that is always fully stocked with all kinds of goodies that the kids can trade their “Keyser Kash” for. They receive one Keyser Kash for each visit—harder days may earn them more—and they can trade
those bucks in for the toy of their choice.
It’s such a fun way to go “shopping”!
TCF
Did knowing Isla would receive a toy or gift
card help the hospital experience?
D
Absolutely! Isla absolutely hated having her
port accessed. On days that she wasn’t as compliant as others we were able to bribe her with an early trip to the Treasure Chest and she picked something out right after she got her “butterfly” in.
TCF
Did your relationships with friends and family change?
D
You definitely learn who your people are
when your child is diagnosed with cancer.
People who I thought would be around more
kind of disappeared, while complete strangers became like family. My parents and my sisters have been by our sides the entire time though, they have been our rocks and our constants.
TCF
How did Isla’s sibling(s) handle her cancer diagnosis and the aftermath?
D
Isla is an only child, but she is very close with
her cousins. They have struggled a lot with her diagnosis. Not being able to see her much for such a long time was very hard. They also saw the gifts that Isla received, so there was/is
some jealousy. They’re young and it’s hard for them to understand what she’s been through.
TCF
Someone once told Colleen that her son’s
cancer treatment would change her for the better. Has this changed you in any way?
D
I will forever be changed by cancer. I don’t
know whether for good or bad yet though!
TCF
What would you say to a family who just
learned their son or daughter had been diagnosed with cancer?
D
Take it day by day, hour by hour, minute
by minute. You can do this and you will.
TCF
What would you say to the Treasure Chest Foundation contributors? Please elaborate on the importance of their continued contributions.
D
Thank you doesn’t seem like enough. There
is something to say about having to hold
your child down, screaming and kicking, for
a procedure and then seeing the smile on their face as they watch their new Hatchimal hatch, brush their new Barbie’s hair, or roll a new monster truck all over their chair. The relief
that your contributions give to families as their new gifts provide distractions and comfort is something I will never fully be able to express. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
TCF
Please elaborate about the Treasure Chest Foundation, perhaps a personal story.
D
Isla was initially treated at a hospital that
did not have a Treasure Chest. I would have
to bring things from home, or gifts we had
received in order to distract her on hard days.
It was an added stress for me—I had enough
to worry about and remember! In January
2023 I had Isla’s care transferred to Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn. Her very first visit there she was introduced to the Treasure Chest when her new doctor took her for a walk. You would have thought she won the lottery
that day. From that day on, she looked forward to visiting our new home away from home. She knew that she would be able to stop and “get a prize”, as she so lovingly calls her stops by the Treasure Chest.
2024 Interview
Danielle Dorsey, Isla’s mom
Treasure Chest Foundation
Danielle Dorsey
The Honorary Chairperson for the 12th Annual Treasuring Our Kids Hawaiian
Luau Fundraiser is five-year-old Orland
Park resident Isla Dorsey. When Isla was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma,
her mother Danielle knew her life would become quite different. Throughout Isla’s cancer treatments at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, the Dorsey’s have appreciated the positive effects whenever Isla has visited the Treasure Chest. The Foundation’s Board President Salvatore Cirrincione recently interviewed Danielle to gain insight into the family’s experience and was impressed with the remarkable courage they have shown in the face of adversity.
TCF
Can you tell us about the time when Isla was diagnosed?
How was her cancer initially detected?
D
In 2022 Isla developed what seemed to be allergies. She had a constant runny nose, watery eyes and ear infection after ear infection. Things
took a turn in May when she was taken to the pediatrician yet again. This time her nose was bleeding daily and she
had developed headaches.
Her pediatrician sent us home with an antibiotic prescription with instructions to call him
and fill it in two days if she wasn’t better. Two days later we started the meds and the next day visited the doctor again, where he noticed that the roof of her mouth felt different from the visit a
few days before. We were immediately sent for a CT to rule out a sinus abscess. Isla was admitted to the ER and it was 25 days before we would go home.
TCF
What type of treatment
did Isla go through?
D
Isla received 42 weeks of intensive chemotherapy that took 52 weeks to complete.
She received 33 days of
photon radiation treatment that was completed urgently
at the start of her treatment. After that first year she then went on to complete six more months of maintenance chemotherapy.
TCF
Can you tell us about the hospitalizations/clinic?
D
Isla’s treatment was
extremely tough on her
little body. She would be hospitalized every three
weeks for chemo, and would end up having to go back
each time for days/weeks
at a time for low counts and fevers. She landed in the PICU three times throughout her treatment and when she
wasn’t inpatient we were
in clinic two to three days
a week.
TCF
What is the worst part
of Isla’s treatment?
D
Our whole experience
with cancer and treatment
has been pretty traumatic.
We spent more time in the hospital due to chemo effects than we did at home for the first year. Chemo was so tough on her that she did not eat by mouth for that year, requiring her to be tube fed. That tube caused a lot of pain and trouble for her. Isla lost the vision in her left eye due to
the tumor causing damage
to her optic nerve. Then
in November of 2022 she developed a severe mastoid infection that required two emergency surgeries and caused her to lose hearing
in her left ear. I almost lost
her during that time.
TCF
What is the best part,
if there is a good part,
of the clinic/hospital?
D
She really enjoys the fish tanks!
TCF
Can you tell me about
the Treasure Chest at
the hospital?
D
The Treasure Chest at our hospital is so great! They
have a cute toy chest that is always fully stocked with all kinds of goodies that the kids can trade their “Keyser Kash” for. They receive one Keyser Kash for each visit—harder days may earn them
more—and they can trade those bucks in for the toy
of their choice. It’s such a
fun way to go “shopping”!
TCF
Did knowing Isla would
receive a toy or gift card
help the hospital experience?
D
Absolutely! Isla absolutely hated having her port accessed. On days that
she wasn’t as compliant as others we were able to bribe her with an early trip to the Treasure Chest and she
picked something out right after she got her “butterfly”
in.
TCF
Did your relationships with friends and family change?
D
You definitely learn who
your people are when your child is diagnosed with cancer.
People who I thought would
be around more kind of disappeared, while complete strangers became like family. My parents and my sisters have been by our sides the entire time though, they
have been our rocks and
our constants.
TCF
How did Isla’s sibling(s)
handle her cancer diagnosis and the aftermath?
D
Isla is an only child, but she
is very close with her cousins. They have struggled a lot with her diagnosis. Not being able to see her much for such
a long time was very hard.
They also saw the gifts that Isla received, so there was/is
some jealousy. They’re young and it’s hard for them to understand what she’s
been through.
TCF
Someone once told Colleen that her son’s cancer
treatment would change
her for the better. Has this changed you in any way?
D
I will forever be changed by cancer. I don’t know whether for good or bad yet though!
TCF
What would you say to a family who just learned their son or daughter had been diagnosed with cancer?
D
Take it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. You can do this and you will.
TCF
What would you say to the Treasure Chest Foundation contributors? Please elaborate on the importance of their continued contributions.
D
Thank you doesn’t seem like enough. There is something
to say about having to hold
your child down, screaming and kicking, for a procedure and then seeing the smile on their face as they watch their new Hatchimal hatch, brush their new Barbie’s hair, or roll
a new monster truck all over their chair. The relief that your contributions give to families as their new gifts provide distractions and comfort is something I will never fully
be able to express. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
TCF
Please elaborate about the Treasure Chest Foundation, perhaps a personal story.
D
Isla was initially treated at a hospital that did not have a Treasure Chest. I would have
to bring things from home, or gifts we had received in order to distract her on hard days.
It was an added stress for
me—I had enough to worry about and remember! In January 2023 I had Isla’s
care transferred to Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn. Her very first visit there she was introduced to the Treasure Chest when her
new doctor took her for a
walk. You would have thought she won the lottery that day. From that day on, she looked forward to visiting our new home away from home. She knew that she would be able
to stop and “get a prize”, as she so lovingly calls her stops by the Treasure Chest.