Bella the Pumpkin

Bella is beginning to get ready for Halloween. She's been wearing her pumpkin outfit and has bought candy for all the kids in the neighborhood. Like last year, Bella will be a chicken for Halloween and will be going out collecting her own candy!

Chemo has been going well. No new news as far as how the tumor is reacting to the chemo. But, Bella is staying strong despite getting over a cold. Each day Bella seems to be getting closer to crawling. She will now get on her hands and knees while trying to get her head off the ground. Hopefully by Christmas she will be crawling.

Hope everyone has a festive Halloween and eat lots of candy!

Jen, jw, and chicken lips Bella

chicken lips

Tiny soldiers do battle each day,
waging silent war against the unseen -
an inward enemy that plays evil tricks
on these soldiers' little bodies.
Still, they fight
Still, they smile
Their courage is unending.
Their greatest weapon is their laughter.
Boundless Hope is their captain,
the banner that they carry high.


Tiny soldiers, though often weak,
endure the tests and treatments
that drive grown men to their knees.
They boldly march toward their prize -
toward whole bodies
toward healthy lives.
Often found playing in their beds,
little pranksters they are at heart,
teasing their doctors and nurses,
living their lives to spite this war.



Tiny soldiers, how many have fallen!
Rivers of tears flow in their memory.
Their spirits live on in order to remind us
to continue in this costly, bloody war.
Fight the fight!
Find the cure!
Bring childhood cancer to its demise!
Sing this song for the young heroes gone before,
and ensure victory for the ones yet to come.
The unseen enemy must win no more.



Copyright © 9/18/2004 Tracy M. Ries

Forever and Always

This past Friday was the one year anniversary of Bella's tumor diagnosis. So I decided to do something that would forever connect me to Bella - I got her footprint tattooed on my tummy. As of right now, her future is still uncertain, so I wanted to have a part of her with me no matter what happens. She will always go where I go and be with me till the day I die if only in tattoo form. When you are faced with the possibility of losing someone you love so much, you try to find ways to hold on to them for as long as possible. I guess I figured that if faced with the reality of having to say goodbye to her physical self that I would have a piece of her spirit always with me.

Jerry, too, has tattooed a part of Bella on him - her name. He had me write out her name and used that for his tattoo.

Please continue to pray for our lovely and sweet Bella.

Jen, JW, and precocious Bella

Cookbooks Have Arrived!

For those of you who don't know, my mother-in-law, Elizabeth Dale, has put together a cookbook which we are selling to raise money for Bella's medical expenses. The cookbooks have some amazingly delicious recipes (all of which are very low in fat and calories) and have cooking/baking tips. In addition, and I think this is the best part, there are pictures of Bella throughout! Cookbooks are selling for $10. If you want a cookbook mailed to you, we are charging $2 for shipping and handling. Now, I know I'm a little biased, but they look fantactic and would make great Christmas gifts. If you're interested, please contact me at badfishbella@gmail.com.

And as always, thanks to all of you for your love and support!

Jen