Letters to Isabel was co-founded by pediatric oncology nurse Morgan Wainwright, who was inspired to create an inviting community for children fighting cancer after she witnessed firsthand the joy and hope that came from a simple connection between two people fighting this disease. In September 2020, Morgan’s cousin Amanda (herself a breast cancer survivor) sent a care package full of handwritten letters, knitted hats, and toys to Isabel, a four-year-old patient undergoing treatment for Burkitt Lymphoma.
Having battled cancer herself, Amanda hoped to make Isabel’s experience a little lighter, knowing how hard it could be to lose her hair, spend countless hours in a hospital bed, and cope with the brutal side effects of chemotherapy. Isabel opened her letter and package from Amanda with a smile from ear to ear. The difficult-to-bear emotions brought on by cancer - isolation, fear, and loneliness - were lightened considerably by newfound friendship and understanding.
Letters to Isabel exists to foster moments like this in an inclusive community that connects patients to patients and caregivers to caregivers, a safe and hopeful club where no one is ever alone.
Our Inspiration
Our Team
Created by a pediatric oncology nurse and the parents and siblings of cancer survivors, the founders of Letters to Isabel understand what families go through when they hear, “your child or loved one has cancer.”
Upon graduating from college, Morgan Wainwright immersed herself in the fast-paced field of medicine working as a trauma nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Morgan is the nurse she is today due to her formative years working at Eskenazi, a place where she experienced the incredible power of caring and talented healthcare workers making a difference in the face of unfathomable suffering
When Morgan started working as a pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant nurse she felt she was fulfilling her purpose. While Morgan views her pediatric oncology nurse role as a true honor, she also experiences the heart-wrenching challenges of her calling. Witnessing cancer rage war on children is difficult for Morgan to put into words, as terms like cruel and harsh are insufficient to describe the immeasurable pain childhood cancer causes patients, their families, and those who provide their care and treatment.
Morgan’s job is a non-stop emotional roller coaster of joy and defeat – birthday celebrations, bell-ringing ceremonies, bone marrow failure, clear scans, new metastases, and scavenger hunts are all in a day’s work. But she realizes that her emotions pale compared to those of a child and their family members as they navigate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Greatly inspired by the simple connection between two individuals battling cancer at the same time, Morgan’s purpose in creating Letters to Isabel is to help alleviate the painful emotions brought on by cancer – isolation, fear, and loneliness – by creating an opportunity for patients and caregivers to find friendship and understanding. As President of Letters to Isabel, Morgan hopes pediatric cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers can experience positive connections, uplifting and supportive interactions, and a regular reminder that they are never alone.
Until the formation of Letters to Isabel, Jonah Wainwright’s experience with cancer was peripheral as his professional career exists far outside the world of medicine. Jonah currently serves as a Political Officer at the United States Department of State within the Bureau of African Affairs, with prior experience in operations and coordination for presidential administrations.
Standing on the sidelines in support of his wife Morgan, a pediatric oncology nurse, has been his closest connection to childhood cancer. Through that lens, Jonah sees unbelievable strength and resilience in children and teens undergoing cancer diagnosis and treatment and he is a witness to the many ways Morgan and her nurse colleagues create strong connections and lasting, positive memories with the patients they care for.
As Morgan recalled caring for a patient in September of 2020, Jonah knew this patient was different for her. She cared for Isabel in ways that offered a more positive, less lonely experience in the hospital. Morgan’s cousin, Amanda, who was also battling cancer, sent Isabel a letter and care package to lift her spirits.
Upon seeing the benefits of this connection, an idea was born: to connect kids battling cancer with one another. After researching and finding very few resources for pediatric patients and caregivers to establish meaningful connections, Morgan and Jonah felt called to create Letters to Isabel.
Now, Jonah is off the sidelines. Inspired by the simple generosity of Amanda’s letter, he knows that a community such as Letters to Isabel will have an enormous impact in alleviating the loneliness and isolation of childhood cancer. Jonah is not a nurse, nor a parent of a pediatric cancer patient, but he is now in the fight, forever changed by Amanda’s generosity and Isabel’s story.
Daniela serves as Letters to Isabel’s Vice President, she is also Isabel’s Mom. After Isabel was diagnosed in September of 2020 she learned very quickly that while 47 kids are diagnosed every day, navigating a cancer diagnosis can be lonely, isolating, and scary for patients and their caregivers.
She is honored to be a part of the mission to create a place for patients and caregivers to connect with people for support and friendship during such a trying time for every family. She has spent 18 years as an educator and administrator in schools. With a Masters in Teaching, Daniela hopes to bring her expertise in child development to LTI to help foster connections between patients and their families.
Steve is Isabel’s father and Letters to Isabel’s Treasurer. He was first introduced to the childhood cancer fight while attending Penn State University and participating in THON, the largest student run philanthropy in the world, “committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer.” On the dance floor with the childhood cancer patients while participating in THON, Steve could never imagine it would impact his own life and his own family, until September 14th, 2022.
Steve will never forget the moment when the words "your child has cancer” came out of the doctor’s mouth. He was devastated and overwhelmed. Feelings of shock and disbelief consumed him. While there was an immense outpouring of love and support, Steve found himself lost and confused. He immersed himself in research on Burkitt Lymphoma, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Steve knew that he had to be strong for his family and focused all his energy on getting his baby girl, Isabel, healthy.
The trouble was, he felt alone. While he had his wife to talk to, she was experiencing similar emotions. Steve’s friends and family were also there to lend an ear and helping hand, but they had no idea what he was going through. Conversations with the doctors were hard to follow and focused on the here and now, while Steve was left longing for the bigger picture. Then once treatment had begun, so did the side effects. Things he was not prepared for and seeing his baby in excruciating pain crushed him. Constant questions around How could he help? Was this expected? What’s next? Rang through his head constantly. Again, Steve had no outlet. Plenty of people to confide in, but no one facing a similar experience and truly understanding what Isabel was going through physically and what he was struggling with mentally.
While internet searches uncovered snippets of information, it was tough to decipher the age of the patient, their diagnosis, and their overall situation. That is why when Morgan, the nurse that was the Krum family’s “rock” that they built all hope around during treatment, came to them with the idea for Letters to Isabel, they knew they had to be a part of it. If Steve’s work at Letters to Isabel can help one parent feel supported and not alone, he knows that he will have made a difference. In a moment of chaos when you have received the hardest news of your life, LTI hopes to provide clarity. At Letters to Isabel, we will strive to provide clarity through connection. If Steve’s efforts help create one single connection that empowers another parent to feel confident in their child’s tomorrow, and how to best support them through their treatment process, he will have accomplished his goal.
Professionally, Steve currently leads the Educational and Government Technology Go-to-Market Acceleration Teams at Amazon Web Services. He has spent the last 18 years of his career helping educational technology companies transform K12 and Higher Education with their software solutions.
Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, Taylor Donnell understands how impactful having a tight-knit community comprising family, friends, and loved ones can be on one's journey through life. After finishing his football career in the Big-10 at Indiana University, Taylor spent one year in Louisville, KY before moving west to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
For five years, he oversaw Integrated Marketing for cross-platform media giant and Warner Bros. subsidiary, TMZ. After his stint in LA, Taylor moved across the country to Boston with his now wife and renowned facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Chelsea Troiano, who was due to begin a five-year residency at Boston Medical Center. Once in Boston, Taylor joined a then Marketing Technology startup, Jebbit - and hasn't looked back since.
With more than 10 years of business development, MarTech, integrated and brand marketing experience, Taylor and Chelsea now reside in Highland Beach, FL with their son Dash and their dog Cali. In 2020, Taylor seemingly found the world around him crashing down when his sister, Amanda Donnell, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer…in the midst of a global pandemic. Thanks to an incredible team of surgeons, doctors, and nurses, Amanda is a survivor today. When Morgan was visiting him in Florida one year later, she broached the topic of starting a non-profit to connect pediatric cancer patients and their caregivers - an idea spawned from his sister sending a simple letter of encouragement and some items she knitted during her treatments. Having felt helpless not being able to be with his sister during her battle with cancer and knowing that she and Isabel were not afforded the community they would have been at any other time, he thought back to what impacted him and made him who he was today: Tight-knit community of family, friends, and loved ones. Taylor now serves as an Executive Board Member for Letters to Isabel, advising now proven entrepreneurs Morgan & Jonah Wainwright.
Taylor is the Vice President of Partnerships & Partner Marketing for Jebbit. With over 10 years of business development, MarTech, and integrated marketing experience, Taylor is responsible for building strategic partner and Jebbit community enablement programs that empower successful go-to-market functions, sales at all stages of the funnel, product education and positioning, co-marketing, and industry thought-leadership. At Jebbit, Taylor has developed key strategic partnerships with: Total Expert, SAP, Emarsys, Salesforce, Epsilon-Publicis, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest, and more. Prior to Jebbit, Taylor worked at WarnerBros. Entertainment, leading integrated marketing for TMZ's numerous digital, on-air, and OTT properties.
Never Alone
We dream of a world where childhood cancer does not exist. Until then, we promise to foster meaningful, one-to-one connections and remind the 16,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. they are never alone.
We exist to provide a personalized platform connecting pediatric cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers.
Courage. As brave ones, we empower one another to face the uncertainty cancer brings with boldness and strength, even if we are afraid. During challenging times, we are there to remind each other, “You’ve got this!”
Connectivity. Joining our club is easy for everyone–-so easy a kid can do it! We strive to create efficient connections while maintaining an excellent user experience for all ages.
Authenticity. We believe all good friendships are formed when people speak truthfully, listen with empathy, and honor what is shared.
Inclusion. Cancer does not discriminate, nor do we. We ensure each member of our club feels accepted and supported as they share their cancer story. We treat all people with the dignity and respect they deserve, never judging nor excluding the new friends we meet.
Mail U.S. Contributions To
1717 20th St. NW #206
Washington D.C., 20009-9997
Letters to Isabel is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Tax ID Number: 87-1110086