Joel Bolling and Jake Eisinger waited three and a half years to adopt a baby, and in June 2021, their wish finally came true. They adopted Isaia when he was just 25 days old. Isaia met all of his milestones and showed no signs of any issues, but his pediatrician noticed that his head was slightly larger than expected and referred him to Johns Hopkins for an MRI.
The MRI revealed a secondary finding. After two long weeks of waiting, Isaia underwent another MRI under general anesthesia so doctors could take a closer look. Soon after, the family received a devastating phone call—Isaia might have cancer, and Johns Hopkins recommended an observation period. They wanted to seek a second opinion.
Jake and Joel reached out to other hospitals to have Isaia’s MRI reviewed and ultimately found their way to Children’s National in Washington, D.C. The medical team reviewed his scans on a Wednesday and removed Isaia’s entire tumor that Friday. The tumor was sent for biopsy, and a few days later, the family learned that Isaia had a malignant brain tumor, an ependymoma, grade 3. Shortly after surgery, Isaia began an 18-month course of chemotherapy.
Isaia endured severe nausea along with many other illnesses throughout treatment. For many months, the family traveled from their home in Baltimore to Children’s National Hospital for care. When the opportunity arose to receive treatment at both Children’s National and the University of Maryland, they gratefully accepted, allowing Isaia to remain closer to home.
Toward the end of chemotherapy, Isaia’s frail body fought relentlessly. He battled frequent colds, COVID, the flu, and ultimately suffered a seizure. In October 2023, Isaia stopped breathing during the seizure. These frightening events were the result of the cumulative, latent effects of chemotherapy. The hopeful news was that no tumor growth was detected, and the decision was made to end chemotherapy.
Isaia continues to manage multiple long-term effects from treatment, including mild hearing loss, non-traditional symptoms of ADHD, toe-walking, and difficulty eating solid foods. Isaia also developed a fear of choking and continues to receive daily nutritional supplementation through formula.
In addition, Isaia receives ongoing occupational and physical therapy to support his development.
Today, Isaia is four years old and attends Pre-K at Hamilton Elementary. He is also a happy Horizon Day Camp camper. Isaia undergoes MRIs every three months. His favorite activities include watching buses, playing with buses, and playing in the park.
Despite everything he has endured, Isaia continues to light up every room with his smile and boundless energy. Joel and Jacob see the progress Isaia makes every day and remain grateful for his strength, resilience, and joy.
