TikTok’s Bella Brave Dies at 10, Mom Shares in Heartbreaking Update: ‘She Was Fearless’
The viral social media star — who struggled with various health challenges — died on July 14
Bella Thomson — known to her online community as Bella Brave — has died. She was 10.
The social media star passed away “peacefully” on Sunday, July 14, her mother Kyla Thomson confirmed in a heartbreaking update posted July 15 on TikTok.
“Our brave girl left her legacy here on earth to dance on streets of gold July 14th 2024 at 4:19 p.m. ET,” Kyla wrote alongside a video of her daughter dancing.
“Bella passed peacefully in our arms,” she continued. “Please keep her name on your lips, her memories alive and her bravery in your hearts. Please share with us every detail of how she touched your life or kept you brave.”
“Bella would want you to remember; God is love, be brave and you are never too old to bring a stuffy. 🧸 #bellabrave,” the message concluded.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Kyla reiterated her hope that Bella’s followers will continue to share how the 10-year-old’s journey touched their lives.
“Everything is hard without her,” Kyla says. “Please help me let the world know I need them to share with us how Bella touched their lives, helped them or how she lives on in their hearts & lives.
She continues, “Don’t ever stop sharing her love and light. Don’t let her memory ever fade. Continue to be brave, be closer to God and love each other fiercely, for her. Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
Bella went viral on social media after showcasing her vibrant personality as her parents Kyla and Lyle documented her life-threatening health challenges with the rare bowel illness Hirschsprung’s disease and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), among other health problems.
Bella’s death comes just days after the 10-year-old was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering complications from a viral infection in her lungs, Kyla told PEOPLE on July 11.
“We are, of course, gutted for Bella. Her bowel transplant last August was supposed to be the last medical trauma she would ever have to endure,” Kyla said. “We are not out of the woods.”
“She sailed through that recovery faster than any child with a bowel transplant has, and finally she could be free of hospital stays,” she added.
In a clip posted on TikTok on July 11, Kyla said in an update that Bella remained “stable with no improvement” as she was kept at Toronto’s SickKids hospital.
On Sunday, July 14, Kyla shared in another update on Instagram that Bella “is still with us and she is still fighting,” however added, “I don’t know which way things are gonna go.”
Prior to Bella’s health decline, PEOPLE asked the young TikTok star her thoughts on Heaven. At the time, Bella said, “Heaven has a lot of clouds, a big castle built of clouds. God would be there.”
“She was fearless,” Kyla adds. “What ever she faced I never saw fear in her. She taught me bravery.”
No funeral plans for Bella have been shared at this time.