Teen Cancer Survivor to Meet Pope After 14-Pound Tumor Battle

A 16-year-old from Albuquerque who survived a rare ovarian cancer is about to have an audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, turning a year of grueling treatment into an unforgettable celebration of life.

Isabella "Bella" Solis was playing softball in March 2025 when severe back pain led doctors to discover a massive tumor in her abdomen. The growth weighed nearly 14 pounds and was sitting on her pelvis, requiring immediate surgery.

A biopsy revealed Isabella had Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, a rare ovarian cancer that affects only 0.5% of women diagnosed with the disease. She endured surgery and eight rounds of chemotherapy through spring 2025, even spending her 16th birthday as an inpatient at Presbyterian Hospital.

"She never complained once about having cancer, you know, being sick, being in pain," said her father Miguel Solis, a lieutenant at Albuquerque Fire and Rescue. Instead, Isabella worried more about her parents and younger brother throughout the ordeal.

In January, doctors declared Isabella cancer-free. She returned to St. Pius X High School after missing most of her sophomore year and half of her junior year.

When Make-A-Wish New Mexico asked Isabella what she wanted, she said she hoped to visit Rome and see the Vatican. The organization went one step further, securing an audience with Pope Leo XIV on May 27 through a connection with the pontiff, who became the first U.S.-born Pope in 2025.

"It was a good surprise," Isabella said. "My initial wish was to just travel to Rome and see the Vatican."

Why This Inspires

Isabella's journey through cancer didn't just save her life. It gave her a new purpose. She decided early in her treatment that she wanted to become a pediatric oncology nurse after meeting so many compassionate medical professionals.

"This whole thing kind of just shifted my perspective on life and how other kids my age, and even younger, go through the same thing," Isabella explained. She found comfort in knowing she wasn't alone in her fight.

Her strong faith helped carry her through the darkest days, making the upcoming Vatican visit especially meaningful. Make-A-Wish New Mexico, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, connected the dots between a young survivor's dream and a historic meeting.

Isabella's story reminds us that the toughest battles can lead to the most beautiful transformations.