ORLAND PARK, IL — An Orland Park girl in remission following a two-year cancer battle is determined to support kids in positions like hers.
Isla Dorsey, who fought rhabdomyosarcoma, always told her mother Danielle that she wanted to organize a lemonade stand, and the past two summers, she's fulfilled that dream. The inaugural event in 2024 raised $6,000 for Project Fire Buddies, a volunteer-led effort by local fire departments to show support for children battling critical illness and their families. Last year's event raised $5,000 cash and $1,000 in Project Fire Buddies swag sales.
Isla is ready to raise more, with her 3rd annual lemonade stand set for Sunday, July 12. The stand will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 151st Street and Huntington Court in Orland Park.
It will feature Nicky V’s food truck, a bounce house from Bounce Brigade, face painting by Painted Smiles by Karen and hair tinsel and braiding by Stage Door Dance Academy.
Isla was diagnosed in May 2022 with rhabdomyosarcoma in her left sinuses, which later spread to a lymph node on each side, and both of her lungs. Following treatment, scans in February 2024 showed no recurrence. To-date, she is still considered as in remission.
While celebrating Isla's win, Dorsey said both she and Isla have not lost sight of all they've been through—and who helped them along the way. Oak Forest-based nonprofit Project Fire Buddies began in 2016, and his since grown to include 140 chapters across 10 states. Volunteers within the participating department dote on assigned "fire buddies," in an effort to lift their spirits. Their efforts are deeply personal, tailored to each fire buddy's interests and family's needs—Taylor Swift, guitars, live music, sports, etc.—designed to lift the weight of their conditions, even momentarily.
Their shows of support ranged from a gift, to a Christmas lights surprise, to helping Dorsey secure a new roof over their heads. For her sixth birthday last year, several firefighters accompanied her on a trip to the American Girl Doll store.
"She showed up to the American Girl doll store with four firemen," Danielle Dorsey said. I don’t know who loved it more—her, or them."
Dorsey recalled how they've been by Isla's side from the beginning.
"When Isla was diagnosed, and she did her first inpatient stay, she made it home for an hour before we had to call the paramedics to take her back in," Dorsey said. "She was there a week."
When they returned home, a Project Fire Buddies flier had been placed in their mailbox.
"I had never heard of them before," Dorsey said, "but from that moment that they took her to the hospital, they have been along on her ride, her journey, ever since."
"They’re not only there for a short time, they’re there for the whole time—the little moments, the big moments. They were there when she rang the bell, birthday parties, her Kick Cancer’s Butt celebration. They're just one of those groups.
"A lot are one and done—but they’re in for the long haul."
While Isla remains cancer-free today, she has experienced some setbacks lately, Dorsey said.
"Isla remains cancer-free and we celebrate that daily," she said. "Though she still struggles with some significant aftereffects of treatment. She continues to be in iron overload, so she will continue with therapeutic phlebotomy. She is also immunocompromised and recently started IVIG, which is essentially an infusion of healthy antibodies to boost her weakened immune system. Because of this, she will undergo surgery again at the end of the month to place another port in her chest for 'easy' access for her treatments.
"It feels like a hundred steps back, but I am hopeful that in the long run it will be what is best for her."
Dorsey said Isla is excited to again give back to the organization that showed her so much kindness.
"It makes me happy to be able to give back to my buddies so that they can make other kids crappy days better," Isla said.
"When my buddies spoil me, I'm so happy, and I want more kids to have that feeling."
Isla's Lemonade Stand is set for Sunday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 151st and Huntington Court in Orland Park.
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