Zanesville family needs help while baby fights brain cancer

ZANESVILLE — Bella Johnson has been fighting for her life since she was born on June 29, 2020.

She and her twin sister, Jade, miraculously survived when their mother's uterus ruptured.

Shalene was bleeding internally and had to go into emergency surgery to keep her own life and the babies'.

The girls spent their first 83 days in the NICU at Children's Hospital before they were healthy enough to go home.

"Everything was going perfect. We had this awesome family," Shalene said.

But their happiness was cut short a few months later when Bella's dad, Joshua, noticed her the soft spot on her head had gone hard.

Her head had grown five centimeters in a matter of weeks.

That paired with Shalene's concerns that Bella was making sudden movements with her limbs led to the diagnosis of a cancerous tumor on her brain.

Bella has now spent half her life living in hospital, fighting to stay alive.

"She's basically an unstoppable force of nature," Shalene said.

Once she switched Bella to an organic formula, called Liquid Hope, Bella began making strides.

She is on her sixth round of chemotherapy and has one to go before transferring to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis for six weeks of additional treatment.

The hope is that when Bella leaves St. Jude, she will return home for good and be in remission.

While Bella is thriving throughout treatment, the frequent hospital stays are taking a toll on her family.

Shalene has given up her small business to become a full-time caretaker for Bella.

She splits time between the hospital and home with the rest of her children with the help of her mother, Judy Gates.

Between Shalene and Judy, Bella is never left alone for a moment at the hospital.

With another baby at home, in addition to two boys, Gauge and Gavyn, Joshua takes care of the rest of the family while putting his own medical issues to the side.

Right before Bella was diagnosed with cancer, he was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and Graves' Disease.

He is awaiting surgery of his own once Bella is healthy.

Without a steady income, the family recently used the last of their emergency funds.

In order to help pay their bills at home, Shalene's father, Doug Gates, has taken the lead in fundraising efforts.

Shalene said she hates she's in the position to have to ask for money, but this experience has humbled her and forced her to realize she cannot control what happens.

As a former gym teach with Franklin Local Schools, Doug started a non-profit directed at promoting health and wellness in children called Kids Forever Fit.

Those wishing to help the family can donate to the fund at Peoples Bank on Maple Avenue and earmark it to Bella.

Doug also created a Facebook group for Bella called "Bids for Bean" Brain Cancer Fundraiser.

The page is set up like an auction where members of the group can buy and sell items to benefit the Johnson family.

Additionally, Doug created a GoFundMe account for Bella, "Bella's Brain Tumor Medical Relief Fund."

Doug just wants to raise enough money to keep their bills paid through Bella's treatment. He said he has no intention of profiting off her illness.

"If more is raised, it will be donated to another family in a similar situation," he said.

Shalene intends to give back by creating hospital bags for child cancer patients called "Bean Bags" in honor of Bella.

If anyone understands what Shalene is going through, it's her own parents.

When Shalene's younger brother Mason was 15, he was diagnosed with leukemia.

What got them through those tough times was family, so Judy and Doug are doing anything they can to support their daughter.

From fundraising and taking Jade to pediatric appointments on Doug's end, to staying at the hospital and using her knowledge as a nurse to advocate for Bella on Judy's end, they have not stopped helping Shalene.

"I know what she is going through," Doug said. "I told her that this is basically a roller coaster ride. You're going to have good days and you're going to have bad days. It's just up and down, up and down."

Shalene looks forward to the day Bella is a teenager and she can let her know how strong she is and how much support she received while she was fighting in the hospital.

"I just want her to know exactly how loved she is," Shalene said. "She's affected so many people just by being here, just by existing."

She saves every card sent to Bella and is waiting for when she is older and having a bad day to let her know how unstoppable she really is.

Those who wish to add to that collection can do so on the Nationwide Children's Hospital website.

Digital cards can be sent to Bella Snow Johnson in H12B, room 38.

They will be printed at the hospital and delivered to Bella's room.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Zanesville family needs help while baby fights brain cancer