Bella Baker diagnosed with dementia at the age of one
Bella Baker was a thriving one-year-old with the world at her feet. Then came an inconceivable diagnosis, and now an agonising wait to see if the same fate awaits her baby brother.
Gympie
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A devastating diagnosis given to a young Gympie family has already touched the hearts of many.
The Baker family returned home from Western Australia on Monday, after making the desperate trek to the other side of the country to try to find out what exactly was happening to their precious baby girl, and why.
Until June 2024, Bella Baker was a walking, talking, thriving 1.5 year old with the world at her feet.
Her devoted parents had welcomed her baby brother Teddy just two months earlier, and Bella loved to dote on him.
But one day, she awoke from a nap while at the park, and could not walk or talk.
That is where her family’s long journey for answers began.
Multiple traumatic hospital visits later, the only answer the family had was a diagnosis of dystonia, which was in fact a symptom rather than a root cause answer.
The dystonia left Bella completely disabled and in writhing pain, and the neurologists essentially hit a dead end with finding the true cause, leaving the family with no answers and almost no treatment options to help Bella.
In a desperate search for answers, they flew to Western Australia earlier in September to see a neurologist who specialises in dystonia.
They hoped for answers and treatment options, and unfortunately the neurologist’s professional opinion was a devastating blow.
They were told Bella has childhood dementia, which had triggered the dystonia.
If this is the case, their next steps will be to explore palliative care options in Brisbane to keep Bella as comfortable as possible for the remainder of her life.
Bella’s mum Abbe said on Tuesday the Perth neurologist quickly diagnosed Bella as having a neurological regressive disorder. Multiple other test that will take weeks to fully analyse were carried out and should tell the family exactly what type of dementia Bella has and why.
Genetic testing has been “completely normal”, hopefully ruling out any hereditary cause which could potentially affect Teddy as well.
A GoFundMe set up to help the family through the ordeal had already raised $13,835 of a $10,000 goal by Tuesday, September 24.
“This is an unfathomably heartbreaking prognosis; something no parent should have to face,” friend and GoFundMe organiser Tegan Shepherd said.
“The money raised here is to help the family in any way possible. To cover medical fees, travel, time off work, nourishing food - everything and anything to help the family as they navigate this journey.”
You can donate to the GoFundMe HERE
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