About Bella
Bella Rodriguez Torres was born to Shannah and Raymond in Miami, Florida on December 12, 2002. Due to low oxygen at birth she was diagnosed with severe developmental delays but was otherwise a healthy and happy baby. At the tender age of four without warning, she became paralyzed overnight and was diagnosed with stage four alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Experts around the world agreed that she would never walk again and only had but a few months to live. Bella, however, defied the odds and regained her ability to walk, run and jump, and bravely fought for six long years!
Throughout her battle Bella cared more about the other children in the hospital than herself. Whether it would be passing out lollipops, prayer blankets, or comforting other children by praying with them, her unwavering spirit and love for life inspired everyone who had the privilege of meeting her. She was a joyful, caring, loving, s’more eating 10-year-old who loved bubble baths, cuddling, and wearing red (her favorite color)! To know Bella was to love her; she lived her life showing compassion and love for everyone she encountered.
Bella’s kindness and heart for service made the local news when she collected over 3,000 fun Band-Aids for “Bella’s Band-Aid drive.” During one of her routine hospital visits, after being poked and prodded by the doctors, Bella asked for a SpongeBob Band-Aid. She was disappointed to find out that the hospital only had plain, brown ones – nothing fun for the kids! Determined to bring a little extra joy to the hospital, her mom, Shannah, posted a heartfelt request on the Live Like Bella Facebook page, asking for fun Band-Aids. The response was incredible, with thousands of boxes of fun Band-Aids arriving from all around the world. Thanks to Bella’s initiative, these Band-Aids were distributed to the other children to help make their hospital visits a little brighter and less painful.
Her compassion, courage, and refusal to give up became a beacon of hope, and inspiration for everyone who had the privilege of knowing and loving her. Especially for our family.
Tragically on May 28, 2013 Bella passed away in her home surrounded by family and loved ones.
On the evening of her passing Lebron James and Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat wrote #LiveLikeBella on their shoes while playing in the NBA Eastern Conference finals and the hashtag went viral.
It was then that her parents Raymond and Shannah along with her younger sister Rayna decided to start the Live Like Bella® Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Although we ultimately lost the physical presence of Bella her spirit continues to guide us. Out of darkness a glimmer of hope and light has illuminated our path forward. It is her spirit and light that fuels our mission at the Live Like Bella® Foundation.