Everyday Angels

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” - Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Happy New Year, beautiful people! Everyday Angels begins 2022 by helping our South Cherokee Recreation Association (SCRA) softball community help one of their own: Coach Christina Kirby, and her youngest daughter, Bella. May her story serve as a reminder of the importance of community when you are faced with the unthinkable.

“I knew something wasn’t right. For a month, my little girl wasn’t feeling well. She had been seen by several doctors who treated her symptoms, but nothing was making her better. She had been vomiting for a month, and it was getting more frequent. Deep down, I knew something was off. Before sending Bella home with a feeding tube, I insisted that an MRI be performed. My gut suspicion was confirmed when the MRI revealed an 8-centimeter tumor on my little girl’s brain,” Christina said.

On Oct. 25, 2021, Bella Kirby, 2, was diagnosed with grade 2 ependymoma. Ependymoma is a very rare form of cancerous tumor that starts in the brain or spinal cord. It can happen in children and adults. The symptoms of this tumor depend upon the area of the brain that is affected. In Bella’s case, the tumor is located in the area of the brain that controls eating, talking and swallowing.

Two hours later, emergency surgery was performed to relieve fluid on Bella’s brain. Several days later, a 10-hour surgery was performed to carefully remove her tumor. Because her tumor wrapped around her brain stem, surgeons were not able to remove all of it. Following surgery, Bella developed pneumonia and was in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), with respiratory issues, for four weeks. Bella has yet to return home.

“We knew the recovery from the tumor recession surgery wasn’t going to be easy, but nothing could ever prepare us for the reality of it. I watched my spunky 2-year-old little girl go from full of sass and energy to not being able to walk, or talk, or even hold her head up. I felt like I was back to having a newborn. But let me tell you what: this strong little warrior has taken this bull by

the horns and is overcoming all the obstacles,” Christina said. “As we finally moved from PICU to the AFLAC floor for children with blood disorders, it hit me that I am a mother with a child with cancer. We haven’t really used that word, because it’s such a sad and nasty word. But that word is now our reality,” she said. Christina has spent the past three years involved in the SCRA softball program, where she has coached her 5-year-old daughter Sophia’s team. Last year, Bella began playing T-ball. From the beginning, the SCRA softball family has rallied behind Christina and her daughters, praying and fundraising. “They even created a GoFundMe account that has allowed me to solely focus on Bella, since I am unable to work. Their love and support has meant so much to me and my girls,” Christina said. Christina has not left Bella’s side since this nightmare began. “I am thankful for my husband, who has been there since the beginning, and Bella Kirby for my family, who has helped with my older daughter. There are many unknowns ahead and, most days, it is overwhelming. We take it day to day now, not looking too far ahead, and remain thankful for each one of them. We are excited to get to a place where we can return home as she recovers,” she said. We ask our readers to simply send a small amount to Christina through Everyday Angels or GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/7c155eaf. If the SCRA family can help, imagine what an entire community can do for them. Please keep Bella and Christina in your prayers.

Everyday Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. To make a tax deductible donation, visit www. everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal, or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. If you know of a special need in your community, email aaeverydayangels@gmail.com.