On August 29th, our family received the devastating news that my sister Irene has been diagnosed with Grade 2 Synovial Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. We have been gutted ever since—because Irene is truly the heartbeat of our family.

Like everything else in her life, Irene is ready to fight this battle with full force—and we’ll be right beside her every step of the way. The timing, however, could not be more difficult. This month, Irene and her husband Derek are closing on their first home together, a dream they’ve worked tirelessly to achieve in one of the toughest housing markets in the country. If anyone knows how to tackle an uphill battle, it’s them.

The pride of Irene’s life are their four children—Scarlett (11), Prudence (8), Claire (4), and Tucker (1). This journey will be hard on all of us, but especially on these kids as they start a new school year, adjust to new routines, and settle into a new home while their mom undergoes treatment.

If you know Irene, you know she’s the life of every party. At a Bell family gathering, you hear her laugh before you even see her—and that laugh is absolutely contagious. She’s honest, fierce, and the first person you’d want in your corner when life gets tough. She loves deeply and protects fiercely, and while watching her endure this will be painful, we know cancer doesn’t stand a chance against her. Just ask anyone who’s ever gotten in her way—it doesn’t end well for them.

We’re asking for your support to help Irene and Derek through the difficult months ahead. As many of you know, cancer consumes time, energy, and resources. Irene and Derek will need to take time away from work for chemo, radiation, and surgery recovery. Every donation will go directly toward medical bills and help to ease the inevitable loss of income.

If you’d like to support the family with a meal or other assistance, please reach out to Jackie to be added to the meal train.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with Irene and our family. Your generosity, prayers, and love mean more than we can ever express.

To quote our favorite band: “Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.”-- Jerry Garcia.