BELLA GRACE BARTELS: 4 YEAR OLD MAKES BIG DIFFERENCE

Bella is a patient at Southland Therapy Services and has an inspiring story. Bella was born with type 3 Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, “a genetic disorder characterized by bones that break easily, often from little or no apparent cause.” (oif.org) She has had countless fractures and has undergone years of therapy, surgeries and pain management to cope and repair her bones. “I have been seeing her since September 2015. She walks independently with a posterior walker and uses a pediatric wheel chair long distances. She loves creative play and is very talkative and imaginative. She loves her baby sister, Emma. She loves to try new things and currently started walking up/down steps with help,” said Southland Physical Therapist Holly Fennell. She is a strong, remarkable young lady!

Recently “Bella Strong” held a fundraiser to give back to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa and Chicago. Needing to travel back and forth to these hospitals since she was 8 weeks old, Bella’s organization used her birthday as an opportunity to allow others to give back. Their most recent fundraiser in February 2017 was a great success and was held at Your Pie in Savannah. We look forward to seeing all the progress Bella makes alongside her therapist Holly and wish her all the best!