Annabella

Care of their whole family sparks a desire to give back 

For the past 6 years, Annabella and her family have sponsored and decorated a Christmas tree that brightens the lobby of the Solid Organ Transplant Center at the Children’s Health℠ Dallas campus. It’s a family tradition that they look forward to every year.

They do it because they’ll never forget what it was like to spend Annabella’s first Christmas in the hospital, wondering if she was going to live.  

Annabella was born with a serious, rare liver disease called biliary atresia. Babies born with biliary atresia have blocked bile ducts that cause damage to the liver. The usual procedure that can delay the need for a liver transplant, the “Kasai procedure,” didn’t work for Annabella. So, within months of being born, a very sick Annabella was put on the liver transplant list.  

Annabella’s mom, Alexa, remembers the early days of worrying about their precious newborn, and sharing very little information – even with close friends – because they just didn’t know what the ultimate outcome would be.  

She also remembers feeling like there was no better place for them to be than at Children’s Health. The staff was warm and loving. The lovely holiday wreaths and trees in the hospital gave them a sense of hope and joy. And when a group of unexpected carolers showed up at baby Annabella’s room, Alexa thought, “Oh my goodness. This place really takes care of the whole family.”  

The comforting words of Dr. Desai 

After Annabella was born and it became clear that she had a life-threatening condition, the family was prepared to travel anywhere to receive the best possible care. But their pediatrician said, "Go to Children's Health and talk to them first. They're in our backyard.” 

Alexa vividly remembers her first meeting with Dev Desai, M.D. pediatric transplant surgeon, formerly the Solid Organ Transplant Center Chief of Pediatric Transplantation at Children’s Health. 

“I had a million questions, and he sat there for an hour, diagramming everything out while his pager was going off – which he didn’t even look at,” Alexa said. “We were his priority. I remember him saying, ‘If it comes time for her to have a transplant, I'll do the surgery and be there to make sure everything is just right for Annabella.’"  

Alexa felt like Dr. Desai, also a former Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics and Immunology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, spoke so specifically, humbly, and confidently about baby Annabella. She thought to herself, “‘This doctor is so lovely, how can we possibly go anywhere else?’” 

Led by Dr. Desai, Annabella’s complicated transplant surgery went as well as possible. Just days after surgery, her skin was no longer jaundiced, and she had the normal energetic disposition of an 8-month-old.  

“It was absolutely amazing,” Alexa said.  

Volleyball, art, and a dog named Cinnamon 

Fast forward to 2023 where Annabella is a thriving 13-year-old who loves volleyball, swimming in the family’s pool, and making art.  

She and her younger sister, Emmeline, have spent the past few summers creating hope-filled artwork that’s been selected for patient-created note cards sold through The Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center, whose members have volunteered and raised more than $26 million for critical hospital needs since 1962.  

Annabella is especially proud of her snowman artwork, which inspired a Christopher Radko ornament to raise funds for patients and team members at Children’s Health, and is a symbol of the family’s love of brightening the holidays. 

The two sisters also enjoy snuggling and playing fetch with their apricot-colored Goldendoodle named Cinnamon. “Cinnamon brings Annabella so much joy. Her first and favorite thing to do when she gets home from school is to give Cinnamon a hug,” Alexa said. 

Cinnamon was inspired by Badger, also a Goldendoodle and one of Children’s Health’s pet therapy dogs. After Annabella’s transplant, they had follow-up visits weekly, then monthly, then every six months, until they got to where they are now – a single yearly appointment.  

They had to limit contact and live so cautiously post-transplant that Annabella had very little exposure to dogs. At age 6, when she started going to school and friends’ houses, she was so scared of dogs that she had to be held whenever a dog was around.   

“When I brought up Annabella’s fear of dogs to her care team, they immediately told me they had a solution: Children’s Health Pet Therapy Program. It took about a year and a half, but Badger finally won Annabella over. It was amazing when she finally declared, ‘Oh mom, I just love Badger so much!’' Alexa said.   

That love has expanded to include Cinnamon, who can’t get enough belly rubs from Annabella. 

“Cinnamon was the best Christmas gift I ever got,” Anabella said.  

Taking stock of the little things 

Reflecting on the months they spent in the hospital, Alexa is grateful for the medical miracle of her daughter’s liver transplant, but she’s also grateful for all the little ways they’ve been cared for and supported. 

In the early days, when Annabella was so sick, they were laser-focused on Annabella’s health. So they were a bit taken aback – in a touching way – when a Children’s Health Child Life Specialist dropped by and asked, Would you like a mobile to hang on Annabella’s bed? Or a certain type of stuffed animal or toy? 

“We hadn’t even thought about those types of things. It made me realize that at Children’s Health, they don’t just treat the illness. They’re there for so much more,” Alexa said. 

Brightening days for other families 

Unlike the early diagnosis phase when they weren’t ready to share everything, Annabella’s family is committed to sharing their story as much as possible. 

“We want to do what we can do to help spread the good word and to tell stories that are backed by a mission of making life better for children,” Alexa said. “Our name will be on the donor Christmas tree list in perpetuity.”

Annabella echoes her mom’s support of their family tradition.  

“If a family is in the hospital with a sick kid, and they’re walking down the hall and they see all the beautiful holiday decorations, it's very nice. It makes me happy and I hope it makes them happy too,” Annabella said.  

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