In September 2021, our world changed forever.

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Our daughter Annabella (Bella) was just six years old when she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called a Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma. After months of unexplained sickness, one doctor recommended an MRI simply to “rule out” a brain tumor. That outpatient MRI would alter the course of our family’s life in an instant.

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The scan revealed a tumor roughly the size of a small grapefruit. Bella was immediately admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, and less than 20 hours later, she underwent emergency brain surgery. In a matter of hours, everything we knew felt upside down.

Yet even in the middle of fear and uncertainty, Bella remained Bella.

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While in the ICU—before surgery and despite everything—she put on a fashion show for the nurses, confidently strutting the halls in her sparkly unicorn zip-up pajamas. She was the most unsuspecting brain tumor patient you could imagine, bringing light and joy to a place filled with anxiety.

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As we waited late into the night to meet with Bella’s surgeon, we experienced an unexpected acts of love that would shape everything that followed. Jayme’s best friend, Nikki, went to our home and gathered clothes, snacks, phone chargers—anything she could think of—and brought them to the hospital. She brought what we didn’t even realize we would need after walking in for what we thought was a simple outpatient appointment. And then love began showing up in other tangible ways. Our best friend, Laura, arrived at the hospital with Bella’s favorite meal: a cheese quesadilla from Salsarita’s. It wasn’t just a meal—it was comfort, familiarity, and a small sense of normalcy for a scared six-year-old in an unfamiliar place. Soon after, our church family surrounded us, providing a gift card for meals and praying over us. In one of the most overwhelming moments of our lives, we were reminded that we were not alone.

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As we looked around the ICU, we noticed something heartbreaking. Many families had traveled from far away—some from other states—and they shared a painful reality: they didn’t have a local support system. They were alone, overwhelmed, and facing the unthinkable.

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In the days following Bella’s successful surgery, with the guidance and encouragement of our guardian angel and “magic maker,” Cheryl, Jayme and I felt a clear calling. We wanted to create something that would support families who are unexpectedly admitted to the hospital—families whose lives are turned upside down without warning.

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Bella’s Blessings was born from that calling.

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Our mission is simple: to remove as much worry and burden as possible so families can focus on what matters most—their child and their recovery. Through tangible support, thoughtful care, and intentional generosity, we aim to meet families in their hardest moments.

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Bella’s illness was a journey we would never wish on anyone. But as we prepared to leave the hospital and begin the next chapter of her story, we realized something powerful: while we were moving forward, other families were just beginning theirs.

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Bella’s Blessings exists for them.