In August of 2017, almost 3-year-old Bella Ybanez, and her 4-year-old brother, Isaiah, were accidentally burned from a barbecue pit.
“When the accident first happened and she came inside the house and they had been outside, she was literally on fire,” says their father, Abel Ybanez. Ybanez says he took his eye off of his children for one second, and that’s all it took for the accident to happen.
Isaiah received minor injuries, but Bella was burned on 70 percent of her body. Immediately sent to Shriner’s Hospital in Galveston, Bella recovered for 3 months before being sent home. Now, 17 months later, Bella is 4-years-old and enjoys time with family and doing regular toddler-things.
“That’s what helps us move forward, seeing that she’s doing so well,” says Ybanez.
Bella showed off her new toys from Santa when KRIS 6 News arrived Friday afternoon. Playing with her tea party set, trampoline and new baby doll; she’s a rambunctious and loving 4-year-old who doesn’t let her past get in the way of her future.
In 2018, Bella saw numerous surgeries, but she also started Head Start, starred in a Christmas Play and has made new friends.
Her parents, Abel and Minnie, say times are tough because only Minnie works to provide for the family. Abel has had health complications which caused him to lose half of his right leg while Bella was recovering in Galveston. They tell KRIS 6 that Bella will need to go back to Shriner’s in April for updated surgeries and to check on her progress.
The family hopes to start a fundraiser to help with medical and travel expenses.
