ORTONVILLE, Minn. - At the age of 5, children should be focused on kindergarten. But for Ortonville, Minnesota native, Isabella Radermacher, a classroom is the least of her concerns.
Little Bella has spent the past nine weeks recovering from a liver transplant because of a courageous fight against cancer. And despite all the ups and downs throughout her battle, the little girl who has endured so much, won’t stop smiling.
Dr. Srinath Chinnakotla is the director of the Liver Transplant Program at University of Minnesota.
“Bella is 5 years old, she developed a rare type of liver cancer called hepatoblastoma," he said.
Bella’s mother, Tabitha Radermacher said, “That’s when my mind, my world stopped.”
Her family was crushed.
“It’s kind of a nightmare.”
Her surgeon was nervous.
“Bella has actually taught me a lot. Not only did she have the liver cancer in the liver, it also spread to her lungs and to her intestines,” Chinnakotla said.
He and his team would quickly learn Bella’s body would initially resist chemotherapy.
“We looked for literature and we tried this new form of chemo and that’s what she responded to,” he said.
He said this was the first time in all of his years practicing that he had used this form of chemotherapy.
“Salvaged means a chemo that is given when the primary chemo fails," he said.
After eight rounds of chemo, Bella was ready for surgery.
“At the moment we have done major on block resection, we have done a liver transplant along with a colon resection. We have also gone in and taken out the lung metastasis. Based on all the tests we are running on her, the cancer seems to have gone away," Chinnakotla said.
Her mother said, “It’s these moments ... that being faced with the worst news ever, you find out your strength ... your inner strength, count your blessings ... our perspective on life has totally changed.”
At 5 years old, the child has become the teacher.
Radermacher said her daughter has taught her not to take anything for granted.
"Stop stressing about the small stuff, mom, come play with me, come enjoy the moments we have right now, because this is what is important," Radermacher said.
Bella will have to undergo two more rounds of treatment. The family hopes to be able to be back in their home in the next couple of weeks.
The family has a benefit account set up to take donations. Checks can be mailed directly to:
Minnwest Bank
21 SE 2nd St, PO Box 128
Ortonville, MN 56278
Make your check payable to "Bella Radermacher benefit account"
Or stop at any Minnwest Bank and make a deposit.