Turning Pain into Purpose

It has been a long roller coaster ride from the time Bella was 7 years old and diagnosed with GIST to where we are now in 2024. The soon to be 23 year old, college graduate/working girl living on her own and making her way in the world. While so many things have changed over the years, still others remain the same. There have been uneventful years and years full of more issues and uncertainty. Throughout it all we have considered ourselves lucky-knowing it could be worse and grateful that it is not. Just a few months ago Bella had a 4th surgery. As usual, Bella puts it in the rear view mirror and moves forward. MRIs, CT scans and doctor visits continue but she moves on . We have moved from pediatric doctors to adult doctors that are familiar with GIST and are grateful for the team effort they have put into her care. We have been blessed with an army of friends and family that have gone through it all with us. You know who you are! The Valerie Fund has been a part of that army. Team Bella's Bunch is not so much about Bella although we have named the team after her and it reminds us of all she has been through. Team Bella's Bunch is more about all the kids in the green shirts that are currently fighting the fight. It's about their parents that have heard the words out of a doctor's mouth that have forever changed them. We are all a part of this club that nobody signed up for and so we show up year after for them-the ones that are still fighting to let them know WE ARE WITH YOU! We greatly appreciate everyone that continues to be a part of Bella's Bunch. Together we are doing great things so THANK YOU! #BellasBunch