Bella update

Been busy fixing up our house for sale, then remodeling a new house we recently bought. Smack dab in the middle of all of that, we spent 3 weeks in Europe. First visiting Jean’s sister and her husband in Luxembourg, then flying down to northern Italy to Casa Rossa, a villa my mother- and father-in-law rent for a few months, every other year.

There’s lots to tell you about and I decided to make my first attempt at a video blog (or VLOG, as the kids call it). But the video editing software is not ‘user-friendly’ (at least not to this user), so the final product is weeks away. BUT…I do have news to share that can’t wait:

My amazing niece Bella is cancer-free!!!

Bella family

She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma stage 4 cancer on July 28, 2017 and began her treatment a week later. Her amazing mother Brandy chronicled their fight on a Caring Bridge blog. Through her 16-month battle she (and her parents) have had to endure:

  • 16 full cycles of chemotherapy
  • Surgery to remove cancerous tumors
  • 2 Stem Cell transplants
  • 20 rounds of radiation therapy
  • 6 cycles of antibody infusions
  • COUNTLESS blood and platelet transfusions
  • Repeated bone marrow biopsies, CT scans, MRIs
  • Serious fungal infection of her lung and eye
  • Literally months of cumulative hospital stays, including many impromptu visits

…But now this little warrior is in remission and cancer free. She spent Thanksgiving with the extended family, making it the best Thanksgiving ever. She is pictured above (on Thanksgiving) with her father Mike and her godmother Aunt Maria.

THANK YOU for your thoughts and prayers.

10 thoughts on “Bella update”

  7. Bella > cancer !!!!
    Our warrior Bella! Thank you Prayer partners, our Blessed Mother and Jesus for this Victory!
    Thanks Frank for this Best Blog.
    Aunt Maria

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  9. Just catching up on my emails- always enjoy reading your blog! I am so thrilled for Bella and her family- what a wonderful holiday gift to have her in remission. All that you listed that she went through is so incredibly heartbreaking as a parent- so glad to hear it is all over.

    I showed Bella’s picture and story with my daughter Mary Kate (currently battling pediatric cancer). She was so inspired and loves hearing stories about other little girls who have been in her shoes and came out on top.

    Cheers to a healthy 2019!

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  10. As a bladder cancer survivor (at least so far) I can feel the joy of Bella coming through this experience and being in remission. Wishing her only the best as time goes by.

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