Stella's Courage - Tell Us a Story

At just 9 months old, Stella has already shown more strength than most people will ever know. Read her mother's touching story below. 💙🦋

From the very beginning, Stella struggled to gain weight and grow the way she needed to. As parents, it was heartbreaking to watch our little girl work so hard while searching for answers and solutions that would help her thrive.

At 4 months old, Stella had her NJ tube placed, which became an important step in helping her receive the nutrition her tiny body needed. At 6 months old, she underwent surgery for her J-tube placement. Then, at 9 months old, she received her G-tube, another milestone in her journey that has helped improve her quality of life and provide better support for her nutritional needs.

While tubes and surgeries have become part of Stella’s story, they do not define her. What defines Stella is her resilience, her determination, and the joy she brings to everyone around her.

Today, when you see Stella smiling, laughing, playing, and exploring the world around her, it’s easy to see how far she has come. Every ounce gained, every milestone reached, every happy moment has been hard-earned. The progress she has made over the past several months has been nothing short of incredible.

None of this would have been possible without the amazing team at Dolly Parton’s Children’s Hospital. The doctors, nurses, specialists, therapists, and staff have supported Stella through every challenge, celebrated every victory, and helped guide our family through some of the most difficult moments of our lives.

Because of their care, expertise, and compassion, Stella is thriving. They didn’t just help our daughter medically—they gave us hope when we needed it most.

We are endlessly grateful for the role they have played in Stella’s journey. Watching our sweet girl grow stronger every day is the greatest gift, and we know that so many of those victories are possible because of the incredible people who have stood beside her along the way.

Stella’s story is still being written, but thanks to the care she has received, her future is brighter than ever. We can’t wait to see all the amazing things she continues to accomplish.

Thank you for helping our little fighter become the happy, strong, beautiful little girl she is today.

Do you have a personal connection to Dolly Children’s? Upload your story to www.dollychildrens.org/story for a chance to be featured on our social media.