SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) — A local 8-year-old girl has a giggle that's so heart-warming, her foster family says you can't help but be in a good mood around her.
Isabella was born with a genetic disorder that affects her brain, but she is thriving in her foster home.
What she needs now though, is a forever home.
Isabella's foster family says she is almost always smiling and that she has "so much love."
And though she is non-verbal due to the rare, neurological disorder she was born with, one thing is clear:
"She really loves small children," said caregiver Kaili Nelson.
Especially Kaili's 15-month-old son Brett.
"She always tries to come and give him a kiss; and he likes to bring her what he thinks she'll like to play with too - so it's very sweet," Kaili said.
Barbara Davies has been Isabella's Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, for the past two years.
"I hope that she finds a loving family," said Barbara who knows lots about Isabella. "We play with toys, we like to read books. She really, really enjoys
Disney movies - a lot of the music that goes along with that she's very interested in."
On school days, Isabella gets to explore in a special learning environment.
"She attends school every day and she's in a special needs classroom, which is a fantastic spot for her," said Barbara. "She maneuvers by herself to the different sections of the classroom and interacts with toys, flips switches and does all kinds of things."
Those who know Isabella say she brings unconditional joy with a smile that melts your heart.
"She's such a happy girl," said Barbara. "And she giggles and squeals and laughs."
Kaili agrees.
"She understands a lot of emotions, so she's very likely to pick up happiness, automatically," she said.
And the hope is that Isabella finds a forever family, that will share in her laughter and give her the love she deserves.
"I think she would benefit from a bigger family because she likes constant interaction," said Kaili. "She doesn't do the typical kid things, so she really feeds off of watching other children play and getting that enjoyment second hand. The more you can surround her with exciting experiences, the better it is for her to have exciting experiences."
If you are interested in adopting or becoming a foster family, please call 1-877-I-ADOPT-U.