2021 -- H 6214

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING ISABELLE MIRZAEI ON BEING NAMED THE 2021 HASBRO

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHAMPION CHILD

     Introduced By: Representatives Marszalkowski, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Shallcross
Smith, Fellela, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: April 07, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Isabelle Mirzaei, fondly known as "Izzy", is the 13-year-old daughter of

Daisy and Sam Mirzaei and the sister of Lillian and Arya. She resides with her family in the

Town of Cumberland and is a 7th-grader at Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy; and

     WHEREAS, Izzy was born with a life-threatening blood disorder called beta thalassemia

major which has resulted in her spending much of her young life at Hasbro Children's Hospital

and enduring multiple difficult and painful procedures; and

     WHEREAS, Beta thalassemia major prevents red blood cells from carrying sufficient

oxygen to support normal body function. At the age of one month, Izzy began a series of frequent

trips to the hematology/oncology center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, returning

almost monthly over the next ten years for life-sustaining blood transfusions which eventually

required the implant of a central line; and

     WHEREAS, Working with a transplant team from Boston, Izzy's parents learned that the

procedure needed to help her was a bone marrow transplant, but because of her hereditary as

someone who is half-Iranian and half-Chinese, a match would be near impossible as minority

groups are incredibly underrepresented in the bone marrow registry; and

     WHEREAS, Miraculously, in 2018, Izzy underwent a successful bone marrow transplant

at Boston Children’s Hospital with the matching marrow provided by her younger sister Lillian

who was a perfect match. The procedure was a success and she is now considered 100 percent

cured and liberated to be a carefree teenager and proud big sister; and

     WHEREAS, Izzy's miraculous journey and her unfailing optimism have made her

eminently qualified to offer others, facing similar situations, with the sage advice to not allow

whatever illness they face to define them or limit their dreams and that “Hasbro will help you.

Don’t be afraid to go there” and “It’s a really great place”; and

     WHEREAS, The exceptional team at Hasbro Children’s Hospital included Dr. Anjulika

Chawla, nurse Jodi Lochotzki, social worker Cheryl Faucher, and Child Life Specialist Kelsey

Mullen who truly became Izzy's second family; and

     WHEREAS, Her strength and optimistic spirit made Izzy the perfect choice to be named

the 2021 Hasbro Children’s Hospital Champion Child and someone worthy of emulation and

recognition; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

congratulates Isabelle Mirzaei on being named the 2021 Hasbro Children’s Hospital Champion

Child. We moreover wish her much happiness and good health; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Isabelle Mirzaei.

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