Beautiful “Bella Bean”

 

Anna Grace has a little friend from church named Isabella.  She talks about her constantly and right now, she is in a phase of naming everyone and everything Isabella.  I think she misses her friend.

Earlier this year, Isabella was diagnosed with Hurler’s Syndrome, a genetic disorder that prevents the body from properly storing mucopolysaccharides.  The end result is organ damage, mental retardation from the resulting brain damage and a life expectancy of no more than 10 years.  Bella is only 18 months old.  That’s the bad news. The good news is that if Bella receives a bone marrow or umbilical cord stem cell transplant before she reaches age 2, much of the damage from Hurler’s can be prevented, Bella can have a greater quality of life and she may actually be able to avoid the brain damage that leads to mental retardation.  While it isn’t a cure, a transplant can greatly change the outlook for Bella.

This is why Anna Grace is missing  her little friend.  Isabella is now in Cinncinnati for weeks of testing, matching and, eventually, her transplant.  Bella will begin to undergo chemotherpy on November 12, 2008 to kill off her entire her immune system: a dangerous procedure due to the risk of infection but it is what is needed to help Isabella’s body to fully accept her new stem cells.  Stem cell day (or “miracle day” as many of have named it) is December 12, 2008.

Isabella’s parents have insurance that is covering a large portion of the costs but their out of pocket expenses will still be between 20,000 and 30,000 dollars.  The family has been doing all that they can to sell off assets, trying to sell their home, etc to raise the extra funds for Isabella’s care.  Dana and I decided to set up a simple website for our church family to donate and know exactly how they can help.  We’re holding garage sales, bake sales, collecting donated airline tickets, anything that we can do.

PenniesforBella.org

 

After a little discussion, Dana and I decided to get Sonny & Shear involved as well.  We are donating a box of 8 skeins of Yarntini (and a few extra goodies too) that we are using as a prize for a special  Pennies for Bella contest. We will ship this gift, at our expense, anywhere in the world.  So, if you’re an international donor, no worries.  We’ll mail it anywhere.

 

Yarntini Prize: 8 Skeins of Yarntini, Zephyr Stitch Markers, Clover Yarn Cutter & Happy Bumble Bee tape measure from Lantern Moon

 

How do you enter?  Go to PenniesforBella.org and click on the Chip In button and make a donation toward Bella’s care.  For every $5.00 you donate, your name will be entered in the drawing one time.  Donate $20.00, get your name in the drawing 4 times, $50.00… your name will go in the drawing 10 times, etc.  Put the words Yarntini Prize in the little note section of your donation so we make sure it gets counted.  If you want to be extra sure, send me an email to contest AT sonnyandshear DOT com and let me know you donated.

So, which Yarntini colors?  What are the “goodies”?

There are 8 skeins of Yarntini:

• Pumpkin Spice (a limited edition color, available only during Autumn)
• Appletini
• Gimlet
• PeaKnit
• Home
• Margarita
• Vintage
• Hope (of course!)

Also included:

• 1 Bumble Bee tape measure from Lantern Moon
• 1 Merry & Bright set of Zephyr stitch markers
• 1 Clover yarn cutter

Total retail value of the entire Yarntini gift is $253.00.

We are also going to announce the Pennies for Bella contest on Ravelry.  For less than the cost of 1 skein of yarn, you could make a huge difference in the life of Isabella.

Thanks so much!!!

Edited to Add:  We will be doing the drawing on December 5, 2008