Bella won her cancer battle and is now in remission

She has started to eat again

The difference in Bella is unbelievable. She is happy and has even started to eat again. Her eating is very limited but she is eating enough to say goodbye to the NG tube. We still have a long way to go and Bella will carry on receiving monthly chemotherapy through her port. She will be having oral chemotherapy every evening alongside steroids, methotrexate and weekend antibiotics until 2019. Bella is going from strength to strength and I am so proud of her. Bring on ringing that bell.

Bella’s fourth birthday

It was Bella’s birthday on Sunday 22nd July and I wanted to share with you the difference a year can make. She is on maintenance chemotherapy which is orally every evening and once a month through her line. She has eight more months to go. Lisa, mum, July 2018

Update May 2019

Bella is doing super well, it’s like she’s a totally different child! She’s doing really well at nursery and is walking a lot more now. Her eating is also on the improve. Bella’s port was successfully removed a month ago and I hope we can now start to put this nightmare behind us. Bella was bridesmaid at our wedding in May which was very special for us all!

Bella picks the winning ticket

Bella and her mum Lisa joined us on 17 January to pick the winners of our Christmas Grand Draw. Bella loved seeing just how many entries were sent in and was delighted to pick the winning tickets.

Update: January 2022

During last year (2021) of the COVID-19 pandemic, I feel like we carried on as much as we could to normal life. We had already learnt the hard way with self-isolating and keeping to quiet places while Bella was undergoing treatment. However it was much easier now as she is in remission. I do feel like she has constantly got a cough or cold but in moderation this is an illness we can happily live with. Bella’s eating is still pretty poor, so she does get very tired. We still rely on calorie drinks. I am hoping as time goes by she will start eating more like her friends.

I count my blessings all the time

We had an amazing holiday booked and a wedding to go to in Florida but this was cancelled due to the pandemic. We are hoping we’ll be going this year instead. This was hard news for Bella but we have to remember we need to keep people safe, healthy and staying together as a family in the long run is all that matters. Christmas is always my favourite time of year. We spent two years in hospital when Bella was ill, so I always try to make it extra special to try and make up for all the Christmas occasions she missed out on. I always look back on past photos and I still can’t believe she was ever that poorly. She amazes me every day. I count my blessings all the time that as she is now doing well. It’s always in the back of my head that life could become that way again. I guess that feeling will never go away. I know as a mother I will always worry and whatever life throws at us, a family we will fight it. Lisa, Bella’s mum, January 2022