TikTok star Bella Brave dies aged 10 after health issues

A 10-year-old TikTok star known as Bella Brave died on July 14, her family announced.

Bella, born Isabella Thomson, had over 7 million followers on the app. 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 in the golden streets,” she wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. “Bella left peacefully in our arms. Please keep her name on your lips, her memories alive, and her bravery in your hearts.”

Thomson also posted a TikTok of Bella dancing in a purple dress to Loren Allred’s “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman.”

“Please share with us any details of how she touched your life or kept you brave,” Thompson added in the caption. “Bella would like you to remember that God is love, be brave and you are never too old to bring a teddy.”

The day Bella died, her mother posted an update on Instagram, writing: “Everything feels numb, as if my mind is protecting me from the overwhelming fear of losing my child. Despite the challenges, I remain hopeful.”

A week earlier, Bella had been placed in a medically induced coma on July 10 after experiencing complications from a lung infection, her mother wrote in an Instagram post.

Before being placed in a coma, she had been intubated in intensive care on July 9, her mother said.

Bella’s supporters left messages remembering the 10-year-old in the comments of her latest TikTok:

• I too came for an update and left in tears. It’s heartbreaking. We are all happy to know Bella Brave. May she rest in eternal peace 🕊️
• I’ve been following this account silently and watching her live her best life without complaining once… it’s heartbreaking 💔😢 I’m so sorry to hear this news. She’s a true hero… 🙌👼
• So sad to hear of her passing 😢 She was so beautiful and funny. I only have a file for the last few months but she always made me smile when I was having a bad day. Fly high Bella Brave 🕊
• This broke me to pieces. Rest in peace Bella, my prayers are with you all 💖
• I’m really going to cry. Rest in peace Bella Brave❤️‍🩹🕊️

Bella was born with three rare diseases: dwarfism, an intestinal condition called Hirschsprung’s disease and severe combined immunodeficiency, which affects the immune system, according to Canadian radio station CJME.

“These three cases are very rare, but to have them all together is also unprecedented,” Thomson told CJME.

In 2020, Bella was listed for an intestinal transplant, and she received the transplant at SickKids in Toronto in 2023.

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds visited Bella after her transplant, and several of his videos went viral. A video of Ryan Reynolds sitting on the floor next to her hospital bed received 3 million likes.

Before her death, Bella described to People what she thought heaven would be like: “Heaven has a lot of clouds, a big castle built out of clouds. God would be there.”