Prayer Request

[nitroproof]

Little girl shot at halloween party mistaken for skunk.
It's been all over the news... in Freedom, Pennsylvania last Saturday evening an eight year old girl was accidently shot by a family member who mistook her for a skunk.
She is my wifes's cousin's grandaughter, Bella. She was hit with multiple shotgun pellets and has servere internal injuries but is improving.
Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
God bless you all,
nitroproof

[jumbeaux]

My Prayers sir....

rick

[rockrat]

Prayers up here for the little girl

[gray wolf]

Prayers for the little girl, may she have a full recovery.

[bowfin]

My prayers go up not only for her, but the entire family.

[44man]

Makes me cry and pray. All day for her.

[olaf455]

My family will be praying for her and her family.

[jimkim]

Prayers sent.

[nitroproof]

Her aunt has been keeping the family posted...

As of this morning she's much improved, is off the oxygen and stomach tube removed. She is alert and talking when she's awake.
A portion of Bella's bowel had to be reconstructed and a pellet pearced a kidney and she had a colapsed lung.

She had some 50 pellets hit her in her arm, back and abdomen.
Last night she twitched her feet while she slept, a good sign.
She's at UPMC in Pittsburgh, a very good hospital.

Thanks all for your prayers.

[crabo]

I pray everytime I see this topic.

[nitroproof]

This evenings update...

Bella sat in a chair and watched a movie today and was quite talkative!
The spinal surgeon hasn't had an oportunity to fully examine her because she's in so much pain.
Bella may be out of ICU tomorrow.
Thank God!

[fatelk]

Wow, glad to hear she is doing better and hopefully on the mend. My daughter is about that age.

[Artful]

More prayers sent

[Ajax]

Prayers sent.

Andy

[fatnhappy]

She's at UPMC in Pittsburgh, a very good hospital.



Yes, yes it is. I assume it's Children's Hospital. Prayers sent.

[rexherring]

Done.

[nitroproof]

Bella is out of ICU at UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Trying to walk today.
Kidneys working great.
Miracle healing and the resilience of an eight year old!
Thanks for all your prayers, I will continue to update.

[Artful]

That is great news - thanks for the update. Tell her she has lots of people pulling for her.

[Dean D.]

Keeping her in my thoughts and prayers!

[nitroproof]

Bella update:
The last tube draining her chest was removed this morning. She is off the continuous monitor and IV fluids. She went outside yesterday in her wheel chair to get some fresh air. She is eating well.
My wife and I are planning on visiting her tomorrow afternoon.

[0verkill]

Thanks for the updates. Mom expects me to keep her up on news via the internet. We heard the story but specifics on how bad she was injured and her recovery were nowhere to be found. After the initial buzz it's like nobody cares. I ain't prayed in a while, but I guess I need to pray for Bella.

[Artful]

Give her our best wishes

[fatnhappy]

that's fantastic news. My family will continue to pray for her recovery. The Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh is simply the best.

[Rick N Bama]

I must admit that I don't pray often, but right now I'm headed into my "quiet room" to send up a few words for Bella & her family, also for the fellow that shot her.

Rick

[WILCO]

Prayers sent.

Andy

Ditto.

[smoked turkey]

I just ran across this thread. My wife and I will pray for continued healing for Bella and the family.

[nitroproof]

The visit yesterday was heart wrenching...
Bella is mending overall but the doctors are very concerned about the long term effects of all the lead pellets still in her body.

[waksupi]

I'm betting she will recover just fine with the lead pellets. They encapsulate, and are totally inert. Grandad carried three machine gun slugs for over fifty years.

[Artful]

How much are they leaving in her? - was it a single shot load or multiple?

[nitroproof]

How much are they leaving in her? - was it a single shot load or multiple?

Artful - She was hit with approximatly 50 pellets, a single round from a 12 gauge.

Newspaper reported it as "birdshot"...

[blackthorn]

Thoughts and prayers for the little girl and for her family from our house to thiers! We pray for a full recovery for all involved.

[nitroproof]

Bella is moving to a rehabilitation facility today (Children's Institute) for a four week stay.
She says she would rather go home and go Trick or Treating...

[Artful]

I'd say Time to dress up and go visit the Children's Institute - Trick or Treat in reverse, and don't forget all the other little tikes.

[nitroproof]

A fund has been set up to help deffer family expenses...
Bella is having a rough go with therapy.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=13515&url=thisisthehealing

[Bad Water Bill]

Another report on carrying lead.

My grandfather was shot in the side in a M L accident as a child. Later in life as a TEXAS RANGER he collected 8 more lead pills before leaving for safer places.

I wish her the same longevity as him. My uncle was born when grandpa was 65 and grandpa lived till he was 92.

[trooperdan]

Nitroproof, I made a small donation, with your permission I'd like to post the fund raising info on a couple of other gun forums.

[nitroproof]

trooperdan-
Please do.

[429421Cowboy]

Our prayers go out to her and her family, that is a sad sad story!
It scares me to think about as our little brother, "The Tank" is the same age, i cannot imagine going through that, or what the person who shot her must feel.

Will pray for her recovery, i spent a few weeks in the hospital at her age with a chest tube in so i know what that is like at that age. I know that therapy is often the hardest part to understand when you're young but she will make it through with some help from all involved.
Thank you for keeping us updated.

[nitroproof]

http://www.timesonline.com/news/police_fire_courts/man-charged-in-halloween-party-shooting-waives-hearing/article_515e00fa-ba2c-548e-b0bb-892ddc132629.html

Latest newspaper article for those following the story.

[GT27]

My family's prayer sent to her! GT27

[Bullet Caster]

Prayers or offered up for Bella and her family from eastern TN. BC

[Bad Water Bill]

Keep us informed about Bella and her continued improvement.

I think some prayers should be sent for the new dad that did something STUPID . I can not even imagine how he must feel. Put yourself in his place and see how you would feel. I could not sleep with that on my conscience could you?

Do not get me wrong I am not defending what he did as that was wrong.

[nitroproof]

Haven't gotten many updates since she was transfered to the rahablitation facility. I will post when I do.

I know I've done some really stupid in my life so I have sympathy for the cousin and his family.

[nitroproof]

Visited Bella today. She's greatly improved, so much so she's going home Tuesday and returning to school after Thanksgiving break!
Bella celebrated her 9th birthday last weekend with a group of her friends, the party theme was "Frankenweenie".
Her broken shoulder blade is still healing but she's well on her way back to a normal life.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

[Bad Water Bill]

Thanks for the good news. I hope we will keep hearing more good news.

[Artful]

Excellent news - best Xmas gift her family could get.

[smokemjoe]

You got mine prayers also.prayers are strongs . They have kept me alive for 1 year now. Joe

[nitroproof]

Bella's Dad sent this email out about ten days ago, thought you might like the latest news:

"We are absolutely humbled and in awe of the response of support we've been given by our friends and family. As you're very aware, I'm sure, this has been an insane roller coaster that began with a tragic accident we'll never wrap our heads around … but that was only the beginning of what's been a life-changing road. Our hearts were ripped out every time Bella was in pain, she had a LOT of damage to most of her internal organs (miraculously her heart and major arteries were spared any damage), but the details of everything in regards to the extent of her injuries I'll spare you because it's just too much. Where we are today is trying to move forward.

Bella worked very hard at both the Children's Hospital and the Children's Institute and had left many of us in awe along the way regarding her resilience and strength to fight fight fight. After the accident, Bella lost a lot of her range of motion in her left arm due to the injuries and a broken scapula, but she has since worked her way to a loss of only 10 percent range of motion, which she's working very hard on getting back. When the accident first occurred she could not move her left leg at all and it took days just to get to where she showed signs that she could move her toes and knee barely a little. When she left the Children's Hospital she was still unable to use it and the neurosurgeons predicted that at best she might walk again but it would take a very long time and definitely would require a cane if not further assistance. If you are not yet aware, Bella has been walking, increasingly better, without a cane, and we have not had to use her wheelchair since returning home. Three days ago, she was able to participate in her first day back to school, and with very little incident -- something we have been very concerned about on many different levels. That’s what I call an amazing amount of progress! She’s our little miracle….

Since leaving the hospital we’ve had almost daily doctor appointments (she has six specialist teams that continue to work with her). We are still dealing with a lot of pain, dealing with flashbacks, working to regaining muscle tone and range of motion in her arm, leg, and back, and there remains a lot of uncertainty about the future especially in regards to whether or not further surgery will be needed and in figuring out how to best manage her toxic lead levels due to the massive amount of lead buckshot and fragments that remain in her spine and spinal canal. We don't know the exact amount, but there's an estimated 30 pellets and fragments that are still in her body. Though she’s had many difficulties in accepting her conditions and the dynamics of the accident itself, her strength, understanding, and optimism is beyond her years.

Again, we want you to know how very much we appreciate your concern, care, and contribution, and hope you realize that you have indeed made a difference, which has been gratefully noted and will not been taken for granted; we will do our best to pay this act of love and charity and kindness forward to others who are in need when we are able. You are part of the reason why Bella will continue making a recovery beyond what any of us thought possible, especially considering the severity of her original condition that was very near fatal, and that the accident happened only 43 days ago! Much of my personal thankfulness also goes to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and The Children’s Institute; they are both absolutely amazing and I will remain a lifelong advocate for them."

[Bad Water Bill]

Thanks for the update.

I am sure you just gave a bunch of us a wonderful Christmas present.

How is the person that made the mistake holding up?

[nitroproof]

Haven't spoke to Bella's Dad since we visited them at the Children's Institute. Bella and her Mom stopped by the house last week. Bella was walking well but was afraid of our two dogs who wanted to "greet her".

The parents seem to be doing OK considering... lots of family and friends supporting them letting them know "We're here for you".

Bella's back in school and looking forward to Christmas.

[Artful]

Let us know if we can do anything beyond prayer for her. Wish her Merry Christmas from the board.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Best news I have read today ! Praise God !
Mike in ILL

[nitroproof]

Everyone... attended a family get together last Sunday, Bella and her parents were there.
She's back to being a happy nine year old, she's doing great emotionally and physically.
However she still has approximately 100 pellets in her body. Her doctors want to remove the ones just under her skin for appearance reasons, leave the ones in the tissue as they will be encapsulated and possibly remove the ones in her spinal column (a lot of them) as they will continue to disolve.
So please keep her in your prayers as we don't know the long range prognosis.

[TheCelt]

Prayers for the young lady and her family. May God look after her, comfort her and heal her.

[Bad Water Bill]

Thanks for the news.

I am sure others have been wondering as well.