County Courier
July 12, 2018
Page 17
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FAMILY TIES FUEL FUNDRAISER explained Sara Barrette, Bella’s mom, “we were all so surprised. My sister had all the regular tests done, but nothing abnormal showed up. It was very traumatic in the beginning because everyone was so shocked!” After Norah had her surgery and came home from Boston the family began to see just how much she had been struggling with her heart condition. “When she was born we were just so happy to have her that we didn’t realize how sick she was. Because of her condition, Norah didn’t have the same blood oxygen level a healthy person had, so she was much paler and quieter than she should have been but we didn’t realize it. Once her heart was fixed, she got her color back and she was very talkative,” said Sara, “It was a huge difference!” Bella has never had an opportunity to visit the Boston Children’s Hospital, but it’s a trip she’s planning to make before the summer is over. “I’ve been talking with a lady from the hospital, Elizabeth Benway, and she has told me that we can come down to the hospital and take a tour,” explained Bella, “I’m looking forward to that because I want to be a pediatric surgeon or cardiologist down there so I can help children like Norah.” Bella, who is going into the eighth grade this year, is no stranger when it comes to helping others and raising money for people in need. “She has raised money for UVM Children’s Hospital’s “Big Change Round Up” with her friend,
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By Ruthie Laroche For the County Courier Four years ago Norah Henry was born, a beautiful, quiet baby girl who was joyfully welcomed into the arms of her waiting family. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until her doctors and nurses began to notice that she was a little too pale and a little too quiet. Bella Bigelow, Norah’s cousin, watched her aunt and uncle as they took steps to find out what was troubling Norah. That process led the family to the Boston Children’s Hospital where three-month-old Norah underwent surgery to repair her heart. Shortly after her first surgery, the doctors informed the family that Norah would need another operation to install a pacemaker. Norah’s time at the Boston Children’s Hospital is nothing she will ever remember but Bella did not forget the care and attention that Norah and her family received while they were there. This spring Bella, who has always loved giving to others through fundraising efforts, turned her thoughts toward the Boston Children’s Hospital and began to put a plan in motion that she had been thinking of for quite a while. “You can dream about something, and it’s possible to have it happen, but only if you make it happen,” said Linda Barrette, Bella’s grandmother, “That’s something Bella says.” Bella has raised over a thousand dollars for the Boston Children’s Hospital’s Cardiac Unit over the last month. “I’m raising money for the heart center at the Boston Children’s Hospital because my cousin Norah had her surgery there, and I wanted to give back to the place that fixed her heart,” said Bella. “She was born with a hole in her heart and a defective valve,”
Victoria’s team. She was very impressed by what Victoria and her family do to give back; it made a big impression on her. She also particpates in other fundraising efforts through her church and school,” said Sara. This year she was ready to set her sights on the Boston Children’s Hospital. “I was turning 13 this year and I really wanted to do something big,” said Bella with a smile. “Initially Bella had wanted to bring toys and gifts for the kids,”
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said Sara, “that was the first thing she talked with the hospital about.” Due to the nature of the illnesses that many of the children are battling the hospital thought that raising money would be better than bringing outside items in. “The hospital suggested that we do an online fundraiser because it would be safer for everyone,” said Sara. Talking with the hospital proved
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