La Conner, Washington- September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the Skagit County Community of La Conner Washington plans to honor a young girl, Bella Hamerly and her family on September 1st 2016. Bella has been bravely fighting Leukemia for several years now.
Bella was diagnosed at age three (3) with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a type of cancer that affects her white blood cells in her bone marrow.
According to a crowdrise fundraiser page setup for the family, the beginning phase of treatment didn’t go as doctors had hoped, and Bella failed the Induction phase, meaning she joined a small group of 3-5 percent who fail, and she began her journey into a high-risk category. The next 11 months of her life was spent with mom and dad in and out of Children’s Hospital, their home base now the Ronald McDonald House. It was filled with intensive multiple treatments, infections, viruses, adverse and allergic reactions, fevers, rashes, etc., even seizures. In between it all moments of calm, though never without exhaustion or worry.
In October of 2015, Bella and her family were able to come home to begin her maintenance phase that will ultimately last at least 2-1/2 more years, making her 6-1/2 when she completes her treatment. She has battled Leukemia for over half of her young life. Though it has been successful treatment thus far, as she has entered remission, it’s still a long and difficult road ahead. Being ‘home’ has brought many middle of the night trips to Children’s Hospital due to fevers and viruses, as well as many routine trips for chemo procedures, labs and doctor appointments.
Bella’s family wrote “I find myself personally challenged by how society forgets leukemia treatment goes on and on, and on. We may be in the last home stretch (the last year, think about it, in the last YEAR) and with it brings higher-risks, higher doses, longer chemo treatments, uncertainty and uncommon side effects. Bella has been doing immunosuppressant chemo daily, methotrexate on Fridays, Bactrum Mondays and Tuesday’s, steroids one week a month, and spinal taps with chemo and Vincristine chemo monthly.
To show support for Bellas Family and all they have been through, please join us on September first to kick-start National child cancer awareness month.
Organizer, Giszelle Barr says “Gold ribbons represent Childhood cancer awareness, so we are placing a blank mural of canvas at the families coffee shop, Caffe’ Jubilee located at 106 1st Street in La Conner.
Cafe Jubilee
There will be gold ribbons available and envelopes for notes to be placed on the canvas to show support and spread awareness for childhood cancer.
Ribbons and Note Cards
All we are asking is that community members simply come down and place a ribbon as a silent statement on the mural showing the family that as a community we are behind them and praying for Bella in her journey of fighting cancer.
The family has supported our community and we want them to know they are loved and we support Bella in her journey.”
Please visit the Love For Bella Hamerly Facebook Page to see a glimpse into her Journey So Far. You can find it by clicking here.
Local artists may volunteer a piece of art to be auctioned in the near future to help support the family as well. Email BreakingSkagit@hotmail.com for more information
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