Family Fun Night at Local Church Benefits Sick Child

This Saturday, you are invited to have a little fun — and help make a big difference for a local child.

A family fun night and silent auction will be held in Carrollwood to help 5-year-old  Bella Rose Denisulk of Lutz  “fight the beast.”

Bella was 2 years old when a low-grade fever marked the beginning of a battle that would change her life. After a series of trips to her pediatrician failed to pinpoint what was making Bella sick, another doctor found the answer: stage 4 neuroblastoma.

For the next six months, she was treated at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa and Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York. In December 2009, she was declared NED—no evidence of cancer.  But the battle wasn’t over.

On Friday, Jan. 27, Bella’s mother, Diana Denisulk of Lutz, posted a message, according to nonprofit organization Because of Ezra's website:

"It is with a broken heart that I confirm Bella has relapsed. MSKCC will determine treatment on Tuesday after a full work up. Please pray for operable tumors, responsive disease, and peace for my beautiful baby as she fights the beast again! Thank you all so much!"

Bella re-entered the fight when doctors found a tumor in her neck and seven lesions on her liver. She has since completed two cycles of high-dose chemo and is currently recovering, event co-organizer Beth Deweese said. She will return to NY for scans in two weeks; at that point doctors will determine the next step. 

To help Bella’s family with the costs of treatments and travel, Deweese and others—"Bella's Army"— organized the family fun night and silent auction from 6- 9 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Messiah Lutheran Church, 14920 Hutchison Road in Carrollwood.

The event will include food, a bounce house, face painting, and lantern lighting for Bella, along with the auction.

"Raising money for Bella is going to help her parents spend irreplaceable time with her during treatment, provide medication, transportation to Sloan, amongst many many other things. They are considered family to most that know them—we all hope that everyone finds it in their hearts to pay it forward and help this family," event co-organizer Angie Diebold shared on the event's Facebook page.

The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. 

Items are still needed for the auction. If you would like to donate, email Beth Deweese at bhdeweese@aol.com or Angie Diebold at glina0377@msn.com.