Nonprofit Spotlight: Wistful Marra

A sanctuary for parents in the trenches

KRISTIN DILLON

When Rachelle Isenhoff became a mother to a medically fragile child, she was thrust into a world few understand unless they’ve lived it—one of alarms, appointments, ER visits, and endless paperwork. What she didn’t expect was how invisible she would feel in the process.

“There were so many supports for my son,” she says. “Specialists, programs, even nonprofits focused on his diagnosis. But for me? A parent navigating grief, hope, hypervigilance, and daily medical care—there was nothing. They’d hand you a glass of water, a brochure, maybe suggest counseling—usually with someone who didn’t understand our world. And that actually made things harder. It deepened the isolation.”

We bonded over one of the hardest truths of this world: systems often stop at referring parents to a counselor. But what’s often missing in those spaces is someone who’s been in the trenches— who already understands the acronyms, the medications, the middle-of-thenight hospital math. When you spend more time educating your counselor than receiving support, the session itself becomes one more source of emotional fatigue.

“You need a soft landing,” she said. “A friend. Someone who just gets it.”

So she built what she couldn’t find. That silence, over time, became a calling. Today, Rachelle is the founder of Wistful Marra, a holistic health and wellness space for parents of medically fragile and disabled children. The organization’s name is a nod to the deep ache so many parents carry—a longing for friendship, clarity, and peace.

“‘Wistful’ felt right because it names that soft ache, that yearning we carry,” she says. “And ‘Marra’—it means

‘bitterness’ in Hebrew, but to me, it’s also the name of one of our cats. It’s this idea that even bitterness can be softened by care, by community, by love.”

Based in Newaygo County, Michigan, Wistful Marra offers a range of support: one-on-one coaching, group coaching cohorts, a free online community, monthly Zooms focused on stress release, and—coming soon—a low-lift journaling program designed for parents who are running on fumes but still want to do something small for themselves.

The need is urgent. A 2022 study on the impact of rare disease caregiving revealed that 70% of parents report chronic stress, fatigue, and burnout. Most aren’t sleeping through the night. Many juggle full-time jobs with fulltime care responsibilities. And few, if any, feel seen.

“What I see again and again,” Rachelle says, “is that these parents are surviving, but they don’t feel like they’re living. They’ve disappeared into their child’s diagnosis. And nobody is handing them a life raft.”

That’s what Wistful Marra aims to be—a quiet hand reaching out in the dark.

Rachelle’s approach is holistic in the truest sense, or as she calls it “wholistic.” She doesn’t just talk about mindfulness and green smoothies. She talks about appointment fatigue, school meetings, interrupted sleep, marital strain, sibling dynamics, prayer, grief, and joy. Her coaching doesn’t offer platitudes. It offers strategy, presence, and peace.

“You can’t build a plan if someone’s nervous system is in survival mode. So we slow the stress first. Stop the burnout cycles, and avoid the burnout crash. Then we look at the full picture— then we get to the nanoparticles of scheduling, bill paying, macro counting.”

That picture might include: adjusting schedules to build in rest; exploring spiritual practices that offer grounding; creating simple, achievable health goals; naming grief that’s gone unspoken; reconnecting with joy.

What sets Wistful Marra apart is its refusal to treat parents like an afterthought. Rachelle believes that caregivers deserve care—not when the crisis is over, not if they can afford a retreat—but right now, in the thick of the mess.

“There’s this myth that self-care means massages or bubble baths,” she says. “Sometimes, it’s just having someone who asks, ‘How are you?’ and actually wants the truth.”

That someone, for many families, is Rachelle.

She’s walked the path herself. Her youngest son, James, was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare bone disorder that has resulted in over 75 fractures. He later developed leukemia. He is, miraculously, thriving. But those years forged Rachelle in fire—and shaped the work she now does.

“Every coaching session I lead is rooted in compassion and reality,” she says. “I’ve lived the ER visits, the paperwork battles, the loneliness. I’m not here to fix you. I’m here to remind you that you’re still in there. And that your story matters, too.”

“At the core of my health and wellness practice,” she adds, “is stress release, eating well, spiritual health, and living with vitality.”

Rachelle is also deeply committed to honoring the spiritual dimension of caregiving—something she believes is often neglected. “Spirituality can mean many things to many people,” she says. “But the fact that we’re not supposed to talk about our most sacred inner self with most people in our lives—it can make you feel really lonely.”

At Wistful Marra, that silence is gently broken.

“This is a judgment-free zone where exploring spirituality is welcome and openly encouraged,” she says. “I believe we are all spiritually embodied people who need sustenance for our body, mind, and spirit.”

“I didn’t go to school for coaching because I had to,” Rachelle says. “I went because I wanted parents to feel safe. I wanted them to know I cared. I wanted them to feel assured that the care I offer is real, grounded, and the best I can give.”

Her coaching sessions are 30 to 40 minutes, focused, and flexible. While she primarily coaches individuals and groups, Rachelle can also work with couples navigating caregiving together. “It’s powerful when both partners feel seen,” she says.

Her coaching helps parents prevent burnout, and find small, practical ways to care for themselves while still showing up for their families. She isn’t there to fix them or unpack trauma. She walks beside them.

“We start identifying where people are pouring their energy—and whether it’s sustainable.”

Rachelle’s vision for Wistful Marra is simple but powerful: to make sure parents of medically complex kids never feel like they have to do this alone. She wants to build the kind of support she once needed—real, honest connection from people who get it.

“We need to see the whole family,” she says. “When we care for the parent, we ripple healing into the entire home.”

Wistful Marra isn’t a crisis hotline or retreat center. It’s something steadier—a place for parents to come back to themselves.

“You have the right to thrive,” Rachelle says. “Even in the middle of hard things. Especially then.”

But her vision doesn’t stop with coaching.

“I want to build a broader community,” she says. “Parent support that’s not just emotional but practical. Like helping kids give their moms a gift for Mother’s Day. Our kids might not be able to go shopping—but those touchpoints matter.”

She offers both free and paid services and is beginning to work with nonprofits to fund coaching for parents who can’t afford it. Wistful Marra is dedicated to helping parents of medically fragile children maintain their own well-being. The organization offers a variety of support services alongside a free, supportive community where parents can connect with others who truly understand.

“We believe every parent deserves to be cared for,” Rachelle says. “We’re here to help you navigate the challenges of parenting a medically fragile child while also taking care of yourself. You have the right to thrive, even in the midst of hard circumstances.” It’s not always easy— organizations often want ROI metrics she says don’t capture the full story. But she’s clear on her purpose.

“Parents have a life alongside their child’s care plan,” she says. “They need to be anchored in support that sees them, too.”

If you’re feeling stuck, heavy, or just need someone to help you see a path forward—this is your moment.

“Whether you’re sorting through something specific or just need a voice of calm in the weeds,” Rachelle says, “I’m here.”

You can schedule a free Get to Know You call, hop into one of her coaching programs, or simply send a message to start the conversation.

To learn more or join the community: wistfulmarra.com // @wistfulmarra Tools