Help Bella Shand Beat Brain Cancer

Most people have been touched by the Shand Family; they are indeed a very special family. The most generous, strong, optimistic, and resilient people many of us have had the pleasure of knowing.

Bella, their eldest child, is 10 and has lived with brain cancer since she was 5 years old.

She has bravely endured:

- 3 major surgeries including 2 craniotomies,

- 112 rounds of chemotherapy,

- one aggressive drug trial,

- over 350 hospital admissions to QLD Children’s Hospital,

- 3-5 specialist appointments every week.

As you can imagine, this has taken an enormous toll on Bella, her parents Bec and James, and her brothers Ollie and Teddy – emotionally, physically, and financially.

A few physical consequences of this insidious disease include:

- Bella is legally blind with only 25% sight,

- she is colourblind only seeing in greys (no rainbows),

- she has permanent nerve damage in her hands, legs, arms, and feet,

- Bella has permanent hearing loss in her right ear.

As we near the end of Term 2, many families are looking forward to their winter holidays. But for Bella and the Shand Family, they are gearing up for yet another round of treatment to hopefully stop the growth of tumours on Bella’s brain. It’s hard to comprehend that this is their immediate future… another round of aggressive treatment.

Due to specialist drug availability, it is looking like this round of treatment for Bella will need to be administered out of a hospital in Sydney. Logistically, this is going to be tough for the family, but they believe this is the best option for Bella right now. Logistically, it will mean that Bec and Bella stay in Sydney, while James, Ollie and Teddy will stay in Brisbane and travel to Sydney regularly so they can be together as a family. Bec and James want to try and keep life as “normal” as possible and being surrounded by loved ones as often as possible will make treatment for brave Bella a little easier, whilst allowing school and friends to stay the same for the boys.

Over the past five years the greater community have generously helped Bella and the Shand family, whether it be with a kind ear, a warm meal, or a playdate. Like many of us Bec & James are private people, not particularly good at accepting help, although often the first to put their hands up to help others.

Now is the time to help the Shand family again. Let us as friends, family, and community members support Bec & James to make this next round of treatment in Sydney for Bella a little easier. Big or small, your financial support will make a difference; it will assist Bella to endure treatment with her family by her side.

No donation is too small because lots of small donations can make a BIG difference! Let’s help brave Bella and her beautiful family.

Please donate if you can and share this with the people in your life so we can all help Bella together.

Thank you so much on behalf of the Shand family.