Winter Garden Magazine December 2016 | Page 15

Then: The Winter Garden Magazine put out a call for blood donations considering what Bella and others would need Since Then: Bella’s family, from her mom, dad, other family members and friends donated blood. The December 2014 issue came out. The cover picture was Bella smiling, but the photos inside were of Bella in recovery and her mom holding a sleeping Bella Now: Jeannette Brown is visibly relieved, Bella and family are doing just great, and these pictures tell a remarkable story of a strong and wonderful little girl and her amazing family, and of a community working together to make sure Bella and other people have many more Christmases to come! Revisiting Bella Brown from the December 2014 Issue Then: Bella was coming off three surgeries to deal with her hypoplastic left heart syndrome (meaning the left side of her heart did not fully form before being born Since Then: The third surgery was her last one, and she has been doing well and recovering nicely since then Now: Bella is in Kindergarten, describes her favorite thing about school to be, “Playing on the playground” (editor’s note: Duh) and is a happy and energetic child DECEMBER 2016  |  WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE   |  15