DALLAS — Ask 11-year-old Annabella spears to name the best Christmas ever, the answer comes right to her.
Her dog, Cinnamon, was a big surprise last year.
Even more surprising is that, for the longest time, Annabella hated dogs.
“She was literally mortified of dogs,” said Shad Spears, Annabella’s dad. “She was so scared of them.”
“She’d get away as far as she could,” added Annabella’s mom, Alexa Spears.
So what changed? A visit to the hospital.
Born with a rare liver disease, Annabella spent her first Christmas at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas hoping for a transplant. Without one, the outlook was grim.
“She would’ve died,” Shad said.
Her parents say spending Christmas in the hospital wasn’t ideal, but the staff made it magical.
“They had wreaths in the hallways, they had Christmas trees, carolers,” Alexa said.
“They just really make it feel like Christmas,” said Shad.
Another cheerful part of being in the hospital was meeting one of the hospital’s therapy dogs, Badger. Over time, Annabella’s fear faded and she fell in love with dogs, which prompted Shad to get Cinnamon just before Christmas last year.
The biggest joy came, however, during that first year in the hospital when, at just eight months old, Annabella got her new liver.
Today, she’s healthy but still comes to the hospital during the holidays.
To help every kid feel magical - the same way she did - every Christmas, Annabella and her family decorate a tree.
She even designed a special ornament with proceeds going to help patients.
It’s a simple gesture, but Annabella says lighting a tree can light up someone’s world.
“Like, just for like a minute it’s like nothing, there’s like no worries and you’re just a kid celebrating Christmas,” Annabella said.
Often, kids ask for a lot on Christmas and Annabella no doubt has a long wish list. But forced to choose just one wish, she says the only wish that matters is theirs.
“I don’t love Christmas for the presents and stuff,” Annabella said. “Of course, I do love the presents, but it’s like all the decorations. I would definitely choose to go do that for them because I would want them to be happy even if they’re in the hospital.”
Because any Christmas you give to others is the best Christmas ever.