Bella was chosen as the 2014 Youth Honoree for The Walk to Cure Arthritis! Her page is now on the website for everyone to read, so check it out(link is at the top of the page)!
She is super excited to attend all the events that lead up to the walk. She already gave a speech at the Kick Off event last week and did a great job giving her speech. I was so proud of her because she is so brave!
May 10th she will be interviewed LIVE on Abc 27 Good Day PA. She will also be in a commercial soon and she will get to invite some of her friends to come be a part of that event too. But best of all Bella gets to share her story and educate people on her disease.
Being chosen as the Youth Honoree could not have come a better time for Bella. She is struggling with being different because she has JA, being bullied in school, and dealing with the normal pre-teen milestones(which some days are worse than her JA). This is helping her see the brighter side of JA and she is meeting so many new people that are just like her. So many people are reaching out to her and supporting her. Every text, email, and FB/Instagram message you send me is read by Bella. Every single message brings a smile to her face and she often says, "I don't even know them and they are saying/doing that for me?" Thank you to each of you for every inspirational posts that are helping Bella push on and fight hard! Look, someone got a tattoo in Bella;s honor too...HOW COOL!!
This summer Bella will get to attend a JA Sleep Away Camp. She is excited and nervous, but ready to meet new people just like her. I think it will be an amazing opportunity for her and it will be one more step closer to Bella accepting JA into her life.
Next year there will be an Arthritis Cruise to the Bahamas and we are (fingers crossed) hoping to attend with our family. We will be posting more information about that because anyone can come and it is a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation too!!!!
The worst part of the disease (besides having the disease) is the emotional roller coaster. There are days she seems to have adjusted just fine and other days where she emotionally falls apart. She gets angry, sad, and confused. She just doesn't understand why she has to have this disease and why she can't be just like her friends(because at 10 being like everyone else is important). Though I go through many of these emotions too, I have realized and told Bella that she was given this disease because she is STRONG ENOUGH and she will be a GREAT ADVOCATE IN THE FIGHT TO FIND A CURE! Some days it is hard to tell her to put her big girl panties on and deal with it....BUT WE DO! We can't let this disease take over.
We are on week number three of Enbrel and the shots have gotten easier and less stressful for Bella.
Last night was her last dose of steroids and Bella is looking forward to the swelling to go down in her face and stomach (she thinks it will happen over night...he he) Honestly, I love her chubby little cheeks, it reminds me of her when she was a baby.
Don't forget to sign up for Bella's Walk and help her raise money towards finding a cure!!
This summer Bella will get to attend a JA Sleep Away Camp. She is excited and nervous, but ready to meet new people just like her. I think it will be an amazing opportunity for her and it will be one more step closer to Bella accepting JA into her life.
Next year there will be an Arthritis Cruise to the Bahamas and we are (fingers crossed) hoping to attend with our family. We will be posting more information about that because anyone can come and it is a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation too!!!!
The worst part of the disease (besides having the disease) is the emotional roller coaster. There are days she seems to have adjusted just fine and other days where she emotionally falls apart. She gets angry, sad, and confused. She just doesn't understand why she has to have this disease and why she can't be just like her friends(because at 10 being like everyone else is important). Though I go through many of these emotions too, I have realized and told Bella that she was given this disease because she is STRONG ENOUGH and she will be a GREAT ADVOCATE IN THE FIGHT TO FIND A CURE! Some days it is hard to tell her to put her big girl panties on and deal with it....BUT WE DO! We can't let this disease take over.
We are on week number three of Enbrel and the shots have gotten easier and less stressful for Bella.
Last night was her last dose of steroids and Bella is looking forward to the swelling to go down in her face and stomach (she thinks it will happen over night...he he) Honestly, I love her chubby little cheeks, it reminds me of her when she was a baby.
Don't forget to sign up for Bella's Walk and help her raise money towards finding a cure!!
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