When Bea introduces herself, she does it with the confidence of any 10-year-old. What she doesn’t say at first is that her life began with a fight few people ever face. A fight that was made possible for her to win because of the care, expertise and generosity surrounding Cincinnati Children’s.
Bea was born a happy, healthy baby to first-time parents Hillary and Jordan. Like many new parents, they worried over every small change. But when Bea was just eight weeks old, something wasn’t right. Her skin and the whites of her eyes began to turn yellow. After multiple pediatrician visits and lab tests, the phone call came that changed everything: Bea needed immediate care at Cincinnati Children’s.
The diagnosis was serious. Bea’s tiny body was failing her, and the only option was a liver transplant. The days that followed were filled with fear, uncertainty and hope held together by trust in the team caring for their daughter.
“Holding her after that surgery was the biggest relief of a lifetime,” Hillary recalls.
Bea’s care team included Kathy Campbell, MD, medical director of the Liver Inpatient Unit, where liver transplant patients recover. Dr. Campbell has been part of Bea’s journey from the very beginning, providing not only expert medical care but also steady reassurance for the entire family.
“She is sweet, she is smart, she’s gentle and kind,” Dr. Campbell says of Bea. “I’m her constant cheerleader.”
For Hillary and Jordan, that relationship has meant everything. “She always has been and always will be part of our family,” Hillary says. “It takes family, friends, doctors, nurses—it takes all of these people coming together to reach a (10 year) milestone like this.”
Today, Bea is growing fast—so fast that she and her mom are nearly the same shoe size. Hillary still sees the fragile baby Bea once was, but now she also sees a healthy child with a full life ahead of her. “It’s such a blessing,” she says.
Both Hillary and Jordan know they can never fully repay what Cincinnati Children’s gave them. But they are committed to giving back in every way they can. Through awareness and fundraising Bea and her family have turned gratitude into action.
With the support of friends, family and even strangers, Bea’s fundraising efforts have raised more than $400,000 for Cincinnati Children’s. The largest event to date—a community lemonAID stand—raised more than $200,000, proving that one child’s story can inspire extraordinary generosity.
“Our job is to give back any way we can,” Jordan says. “It’s part of the DNA of our family.”
Bea’s story is a success story. But more than that, it is a reminder of what’s possible when expert care, compassionate teams and generous donors come together—turning fear into hope, and giving children like Bea the chance to grow, play and live.
Our mission compels us to go further, act faster and lead in ways others cannot.
We’re determined to create a vastly better future for children here in Cincinnati, across the nation and around the globe.
But we can’t do it alone. The potential to change and save lives is within our reach. And you can help.
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