Interviewing cancer survivor and Golden Knights superfan Izzy Woodward and her family
There's nobody tougher than someone who beats cancer three times. Why is Izzy Woodward one of the strongest people you'll ever meet?
Once upon a time, there was a princess warrior from a kingdom called Las Vegas who fought an evil creature. That creature was demonic and took down anything that stood in its path. This evil being was known as neuroblastoma, a cancerous ailment that attacks the adrenal glands.
The name of the princess warrior was Izzy, a brave soul who took on anything in her path. Whether it was cancer or opposing hockey players, she stood fearless. The princess warrior vanquished the evil neuroblastoma once, who only tried to battle her again. She defeated the cancerous illness and won once more. Now, Izzy was cancer-free and she went back to her kingdom to tend to her people.
This is the story of Izzy Woodward, a nine-year-old Vegas Golden Knights fan who conquered cancer three times, a remarkable feat. She got to appear at the 2024 NHL Draft and be drafted by the Hockey Fights Cancer team, courtesy of the Golden Knights, the NHL, and AstraZeneca. With Gary Bettman, Nic Hague, Kelly McCrimmon, and over 18,000 fans watching her bravery, they applauded Izzy's courage and congratulated her on being cancer-free.
The nine-year-old got an HFC jersey and was featured on ESPN as the Hockey Fights Cancer Draft Hero presented by AstraZeneca. Izzy and her family live in Las Vegas and are huge Vegas Golden Knights fans. She watches every game with her mom Tierra McCullah, dad Royce Woodward, and brother Aiden.
So what it's like meeting one of the strongest people in today's society? What does it mean to be a warrior and tackle any challenge that heads your way? That's what was discussed with Izzy Woodward's family, who can take on any challenge after dealing with the perils of cancer.
NOTE: Thank you to AstraZeneca (and Izzy Woodward and her family) for making this happen, for Izzy and all parties involved. The NHL world heard about her incredible story and how she inspires others.
More on the program
Get Body Checked Against Cancer with AstraZeneca – a public health campaign launched in partnership with Hockey Fights Cancer (a joint initiative of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) powered by the V Foundation for Cancer Research).
Campaign background information:
- Since November 2023, AstraZeneca has teamed up as an official partner of Hockey Fights Cancer™, a joint initiative of the NHL and NHL Players Association, powered by the V Foundation for Cancer Research on an important public health campaign dedicated to educating and empowering the hockey community to Get Body Checked Against Cancer.
- While body checking gives players an advantage on the ice, Get Body Checked Against Cancer aims to encourage education and action among hockey fans to know their cancer risk factors and talk to their doctors about screening options right for them. Our hope is that this campaign encourages people to face cancer with courage.
Jacob: What was your initial reaction when you heard Izzy Woodward beat neuroblastoma and become cancer-free?
Tierra: It was a long time coming. She was three when she was diagnosed. Izzy went through so many treatments and chemo that it affected her kidneys. Izzy was going through immunotherapy and was on dialysis. She had relapses but smiled and showed her strength. She was also mature throughout the process, asking the doctor questions, and was willing to understand medical terms (something a three/nine-year-old shouldn't know). It helped her grow into the person she is today.
Jacob: How does Izzy motivate you everyday? How does she inspire others?
Tierra: Izzy has met many people along the way and has Facebook followers across the globe. People from Europe and Brazil constantly hear about how strong she is.
"If Izzy can do it, I can do it, too."
Anything Izzy puts her mind to, she can accomplish. She was so courageous throughout the process, never complaining once. When Izzy got sick from chemo, she turned around and asked, "Can I keep eating?" She tackled this without any complaint or struggle. In turn, we had to step back and change our viewpoint to be positive and strong.
Jacob: Who is Izzy's favorite Golden Knights player?
Tierra: She loved Jonathan Marchessault, who's been her ride-or-die since day one. He was one of the first players (along with Reilly Smith) she met and met him multiple times. Izzy saw him at the games, built a connection with him, and could even pronounce his name correctly. She also loves Nic Roy, who gave her some pucks, and Mark Stone for his leadership. Nic Hague is also amazing and offered her encouraging words on Friday. She loves everyone.
Izzy: I love Jonathan Marchessault (now with Nashville), Nic Hague, Mark Stone, and Nic Roy. Marchessault told me to be brave and talked to me about many things. He talks to me about how I'm doing, cheer, summer plans, school, and family.
Jacob: How cool was it to go onstage during the NHL Draft and be drafted by the HFC (Hockey Fights Cancer) team?
Tierra: It was very cool. We've been huge VGK fans since day one. Our family had a bond with the team, with Izzy recognizing everything the Vegas Golden Knights did. She used to watch the games in the hospital, which gave her a sense of normalcy. She knew what the moment meant for her going onstage. We still talk about the standing ovation Izzy got because of everything she went through the past six years.
Izzy: I was happy but nervous. I had to go on the stage in front of thousands of people. I'm proud of myself for going on stage and meeting Nic Hague.
Jacob: How did Izzy beating neuroblastoma change your life outlook?
Tierra: We used to worry about the future and what it would bring us. Now, we take things one day at a time since life can quickly change. We're doing one more treatment, then we're done. Let's enjoy life, including the moments and little things.
Jacob: What advice would you give any parent who's going through a similar struggle?
Tierra: Take it one day at a time. Be an advocate and ask questions. Mother's tuition is real, so if something's wrong, look into it. I have a group of moms I'm part of and I'm grateful to be in a position where I can give advice to other moms about various things. That includes hospital stays, going to the clinic and asking questions. Take the good moments as they come, even small victories. The bad moments, you must push through them. Life is never guaranteed, so take everything one day at a time.
Izzy: I hope you feel better and don't give up!
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