IT’S THE PERFECT GIFT FOR LITTLE BELLA
A FEW short months ago, baby Bella Rose Furlong from Ballymurn faced the prospect of difficult open heart surgery. Now, following life-saving surgery and lots of tender loving care, Bella is to meet pantomime heroine Belle, after whom she is named, after her family was invited by Wexford Pantomime Society to their show ‘Beauty and the Beast’ – a Christmas treat they could not have imagined over the summer. ‘It will be the end to a bad year and a start to a good year,’ said Bella’s mother Bekki Furlong
A SIX-MONTH-OLD Ballymurn child is to meet the star of the pantomine heroine she is named after following succesful open-heart surgery at Crumlin Hospital.
Bella Rose, the daughter of Bekki Furlong, from Ballymurn, and nine other members of her family have been invited by Wexford Pantomime Society to their show ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in a Christmas treat they could not have imagined a few short months ago.
‘It will be the end to a bad year and a start to a good year,’ said Bekki, who said that after a difficult time, the panto trip would give a major fillip to the family and something for them all to look forward to.
‘Bella has asked Santa for a Belle costume and if she’s lucky enough to get one, she’ll be wearing it at the pantomime.’
Bekki said Bella’s open heart sugery had been a great success.
‘She faces more surgery in a few weeks time to repair her palate and her lip, but she’s doing absolutely fantastically and we can’t wait for Christmas.. it’s a big thing for us this year and we’re looking forward to putting hospitals on hold and locking the front door,’ said Bekki.
‘ Things are very different to the way they were a few months ago and it’s unbelievable that the panto society has invited me and family to the show, which is special to use because Belle is named after Belle in Beauty and Beast,’ said Bekki, adding that her eight-year-old daughter Molly would be meeting all the cast as well.
‘It’s a big treat for Molly... she’s been through a lot as well.’
Bekki said the people of Wexford had been very supportive and generous and donations were still coming in to the Jack and Jill Foundation which stepped in to help the family when the extent of Bella Rose’s medical issues became apparent following her birth back in June.
As well as having her heart defect repaired, the youngster has a bilateral cleft lip and palate, misformed chromosome 7, and herertaxy syndrome.
Bekki said the pantomime society had decided to stage its annual raffle for the benefit of Jack and Jill, which had proved a godsend for the family.