Izzy brings sunshine into every day.
Whether it’s exercising with her parents in their home gym, riding her bike or trying out a new sport, 6-year-old Izzy is up for just about anything — with a sly sense of humor that leaves everyone laughing.
For Izzy’s parents, Caira and Joseph Martino, Izzy’s joy for life is a byproduct of her incredible determination in the face of harrowing odds. Since before she was born, Izzy has overcome medical challenge after medical challenge.
“Izzy is just very resilient,” Caira said. “She’s the most outgoing child I’ve ever met. … She’s not like, ‘I give up,’ quits at life. She just always really tries to do her best.”
“There’s never many moments when she’s below the weather emotionally,” Joseph said. “She’s just got so much personality for being 6.”
When Caira was pregnant with Izzy, doctors discovered during her 36-week ultrasound that Izzy had suffered a stroke in utero, causing a third-degree brain bleed that led to hydrocephalus, a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain and causes pressure and enlargement.
Caira was referred to OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, where Izzy was born early via cesarean section and spent a week in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). When she was two weeks old, Izzy underwent a minimally invasive brain surgery, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), to relieve the pressure and treat the hydrocephalus. When the ETV wasn’t as effective as doctors hoped, Izzy went back for additional brain surgeries to implant shunts meant to drain excess fluid away from the brain.
In all, Izzy had six brain surgeries before she turned 3, all the while meeting every developmental milestone and showcasing her charismatic personality.
In 2023, Izzy started developing seizures, a symptom that can develop in some children with hydrocephalus. Her care team at Doernbecher, whom the Martino family has relied on every step of the way, has helped Caira and Joseph navigate this new hurdle.
“Whenever we go to Doernbecher, it almost seems like they could be volunteers because they seem passionate,” Joseph said.
“If it’s Izzy, we go straight to Doernbecher,” Caira said. “We know that we’re going to get the best care for her and her specific needs.”
Izzy, who recently started kindergarten, continues to visit Doernbecher regularly for checkups and monitoring. Her health journey is ongoing, but if her mindset thus far is any indication, Izzy will meet each new day with a laugh.
“She loves attention. She loves meeting new people,” Caira said. “For having an unknown diagnosis with her birth, she never really gave us an opportunity to think things weren’t going to work out because she always surpassed every milestone. The sky’s the limit for Izzy.”
Patient Care
Patient Care
Discovery | Patient Care
