Bella Thomson, a brave 10-year-old from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, faces the challenges of three rare medical conditions: a type of dwarfism, Hirschsprung’s Disease, and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID). Her mother, Kyla Thomson, has dedicated nearly a decade to caring for Bella and has become a fervent advocate, sharing their inspiring story with over 7 million followers on TikTok.
In a recent interview with the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF), Kyla shared insights into Bella’s medical journey. Hirschsprung’s Disease, which involves the absence of nerve cells in parts of the large intestine, has significantly impacted Bella’s entire colon. Through their active social media presence, the family aims to raise awareness and provide support to other families facing medical challenges.
Despite their positive intentions, the Thomsons sometimes encounter negativity online.
While their message is overwhelmingly positive, the Thomsons have faced negative reactions. A viral video showing Kyla lifting Bella towards the camera sparked a wave of online backlash. This prompted support from notable TikTok personalities such as Jen Hamilton and Ophelia Nichols. In an interview, Kyla admitted that she usually avoids responding to online negativity but found this incident particularly troubling.
“I usually don’t want to respond because I don’t want to give them the attention they’re seeking,” Kyla explained. “They’re just hiding behind a keyboard in the comments section.” She acknowledged that although such incidents are infrequent, viral content brings both visibility and scrutiny.
Instead of disabling comments, as she had done in the past, Kyla chose to confront some of the hurtful remarks directly, hoping to educate others about Bella’s extensive medical journey. Bella, who, due to her dwarfism, weighs less than 30 pounds, has spent over 1,000 days in the hospital, undergone numerous surgeries, and survived multiple septic shock infections. Just last year, she had a life-saving bowel transplant.
Despite the challenges, the Thomsons are determined to focus on their genuine supporters.
Kyla is committed to advocating for pediatric organ donations and supporting families with medical needs, aiming to foster understanding rather than retreating from online platforms. Despite facing adversity, Bella consistently shows remarkable resilience, often encouraging her mother to ignore the negativity.
The Thomsons continue to create content for their supporters, whom they affectionately call the “Bella Bravelings.” Kyla emphasized the importance of this community, saying, “That’s who we’re here for. That’s who we show up for. We keep our focus on them, and we’re grateful for their support.” She hopes their followers will continue to spread positivity without retaliating against trolls.
Bella appreciates the support from her online community, which motivates her to keep going. “That’s what she knows, and that’s what keeps her going too,” Kyla affirmed. The Thomsons’ journey is a powerful testament to resilience, advocacy, and the unwavering support of a compassionate online community.
