A 10-year-old TikTok star known as Bella Brave passed away on July 14, her family announced.
Bella, whose full name was Isabella Thomson, had amassed over 7 million followers on TikTok. Her mother, Kyla Thomson, confirmed Bella’s death on social media on July 15.
“Our brave girl left her legacy here on earth to dance on streets of gold,” Kyla wrote in an Instagram post. “Bella passed peacefully in our arms. Please keep her name on your lips, her memories alive, and her bravery in your hearts.”
Kyla also shared a TikTok video of Bella dancing in a purple dress to “Never Enough” by Loren Allred from “The Greatest Showman.”
“Please share with us every detail of how she touched your life or kept you brave,” she added. “Bella would want you to remember: God is love, be brave, and you are never too old to bring a stuffy.”
On the day of Bella’s death, her mother posted an update on Instagram, writing: “Everything feels numb, as if my mind is shielding me from the overwhelming fear of losing my child. Despite the odds, I hold on to hope.”
Just a week earlier, Bella had been placed in a medically induced coma on July 10 after experiencing complications from a lung infection, according to her mother’s Instagram post.
Prior to being placed in a coma, Bella had been intubated in the ICU on July 9, her mother shared.
Supporters left heartfelt messages in the comments of Bella’s latest TikTok:
“I too came for an update and now left crying my eyes out. This is heartbreaking. We are all for the better in knowing Bella Brave. May she rest in eternal peace 🕊️”
“Quietly I’ve followed this account and watched her live her best life and not complain once… this is heartbreaking 💔😢 I am so very sorry to hear this news. She is a true hero… 🙌👼”
“So sad to hear of her passing 😢 She was so beautiful and funny. I have only followed for the last few months, but she always put a smile on my face when I was having a bad day. Fly high Bella Brave 🕊️”
“This broke me to pieces. Rest in peace, Bella, prayers to you all 💖”
“I’m actually going to sob. Rest in peace Bella Brave ❤️🩹🕊️”
Bella was born with three rare medical conditions: dwarfism, Hirschsprung disease (a bowel disease), and severe combined immunodeficiency, which affects the immune system, as reported by Canadian radio station CJME.
“All three are very rare, but to have them all together is also unheard of,” Thomson told CJME.
In 2020, Bella was placed on a list for a bowel transplant, which she received at SickKids Hospital in Toronto in 2023.
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds visited Bella after her transplant, and several of the videos went viral. One video of Reynolds sitting on the floor next to her hospital bed received 3 million likes.
Before her death, Bella described what she imagined heaven to be like to People magazine: “Heaven has a lot of clouds, a big castle built of clouds. God would be there.”