'She can survive now': Sask. girl who became TikTok sensation recovers from life-saving bowel transplant

A young girl from Swift Current, Sask., had waited three years for a life-saving boweltransplant and just over a week ago, she got it.

Nine-year-old Bella Thomson was born with three rare conditions: dwarfism, severe combined immunodeficiency and Hirschsprung's disease, which affects the bowel.

"I'm good," Bella told CBC News from her hospital room intheHospital for Sick Children in Toronto also known as SickKids.

Her positivity became an overnight sensation on TikTokin 2021, after her mother posted a video of her drawing a fox for a short story. She now has millions of followers on TikTok, including pop singer Halsey, who sent Bella a gift of art supplies.

Hirschsprung's disease affects the large intestine or colon. It occurs because a baby is missing nerve cells in the muscles that help pass food throughthe bowel, according to the Mayo Clinic. Blockages can form in their bowel as a result, causing the colon to swell.

Kids with the disease are prone toenterocolitis, an intestinal infection that can be life-threatening. Surgery to bypass or remove the affected part of the colon is the only treatment.

WATCH|TikTok star Bella Thomson recovering after receiving life-saving bowel transplant:

TikTok star Bella Thomson recovering after receiving life-saving bowel transplant

1 year ago

Duration 2:30

A little girl from Swift Current, Sask., had one of her dreams come true 11 days ago. After three years on the transplant list, she received life-saving surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. It's a journey that millions of people have been following on TikTok. Her family hopes her story will inspire more people to become stem cell and organ donors.

For years, Bella dealt with pain and distension, and used IVs and total parenteral nutrion (TPN), saidKyla Thomson, Bella's mother.

TPN is a way of feeding that bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. Theperson is fed liquidnutrients such as vitamins, carbohydrates and protein through avein.

In 2020, Bella's doctors put her on the transplant list because she was lacking invascular access, meaning the girl would have trouble inserting IVs, Kylasaid.

Bella needed to wait for another child's bowels to become available for the surgery, Kylasaid, adding that their familyis grateful to the organ donor'sfamily, who approved thedonation.

"She can survive now, because she has new bowels,"Kylasaid. "That journey will be brand new for us in every way."

While she previously worked as a teacher, Kyla said she left her job to be a full-time "medical mom."

Bella will still need to receive immune boosters due to her immunodeficiency, Kylasaid, but the surgery will alleviate her daughter's pain and the need to use IVs, among other things.

"The freedom for her is huge and all of us together," she said. "We had to live our life not knowing when the next hospital stay would be and how long it would last."

First day with solid food

Bella will have to stay at the hospital inToronto from three months to a year, shesaid. Bella's mom, dad and younger brother are all in Toronto with her.

But her doctors are incredibly pleased with the operation and how the girl's recovering, Kylasaid.

Kyla was told by doctors thata post-operation scope of Bella's bowel showed no signs of rejection. Bella has startedwalkingagain, andthe day she spoke with CBC News was her first day eating solid food.

That day, she had eaten oatmeal with cinnamon and apple slices for breakfast. Lunch washalf of a roast beef sandwich with lettuceand low-fat mayo, Bellasaid.

Rice with soy sauce was on the menu for dinner, she added.

Bella, who has spent hundreds of days in hospital during her life, has become Internet famous during her health journey.

Bella told CBC News she has a message for other children waiting for a transplant.

"Be very careful. Have lots of fun. And stay brave," she said.