Saskatchewan TikTok star undergoes life-saving surgery – Regina
With her life once threatened by an intestinal illness, things are looking up for Bella Thompson of Swift Current.
Now nine, Thompson was born with dwarfism, a compromised immune system and other health complications that kept her in and out of hospital for many years.
In mid-August, she underwent surgery for an intestinal transplant and is currently recovering in hospital.
Thompson took to social media to share her medical journey under the nickname Bella Brave. Her accounts, managed by her mother Kyla Thompson, have ama*sed millions of followers and views across various platforms.
However, the journey to her final procedure was not easy. Initially, the Thompson family received a call from a donor in early 2022, but it didn’t go through. It wasn’t until August 2023 that a second call came in and the Thompson family flew to Toronto by air taxi for the response.
Kyla said the support and well wishes from her family, friends and online followers have been overwhelming.
“I’m always impressed by the number of people who contact us and tell us that my daughter inspired them or that our TikToks bring them joy and help them through difficult times,” she said.
Glad to be done with the surgery, Bella had mixed emotions about the timing of the procedure.
“It was terrible timing because I was just about to start school and had an all-pink back-to-school theme and now I’m so disappointed,” she said.
Kyla’s mother said doctors were happy with her daughter’s recovery. Although some follow-up procedures are yet to be completed, she could return home in three months.
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