Team Cure was founded by a soon to be 7th grader looking to help out a stranger. My name is Lindsey Pacios and I am the Founder and President of Team Cure. I was only 12 years old when I founded Team Cure.
It all started in January 2016. I was scrolling through Instagram where I found a page ran by another 12 year old named Bella, @thenookdolls. I loved American Girl Dolls as a kid (and still collect now) and this page was filled with beautiful doll photos. In addition to being a talented doll photographer, Bella was also a helpful volunteer for many causes, a dancer, an athlete, and played the flute in her school band.
One day out of nowhere, Bella said she was in the ER and that something was wrong with her lungs. It was very scary and confusing as Bella has never mentioned being seriously sick before. After many tests, Bella got her diagnosis and it wasn’t pneumonia like we all thought. It was Osteosarcoma, a big, scary word that carried a lot of weight. Bella had been diagnosed with a bone cancer that had spread to her lungs causing the chest pain and shortness of breath. There were so many tumors in her lungs the doctor couldn't even count them all! Bella started her chemotherapy treatments and radiation treatments immediately after her diagnosis.
It was very hard to believe that a fellow 12 year old could be diagnosed with cancer. She was always healthy before this, Bella was only on antibiotics once in her life before. She ate an all-organic diet, and she was an athlete. I watched as Bella’s Instagram account filled with doll photos taken outside was replaced with photos of her in the hospital with her dolls. I watched as Bella documented all her chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and surprise ER visits. I learned a lot about cancer and cancer treatment through Bella documenting her journey online.
It all started in January 2016. I was scrolling through Instagram where I found a page ran by another 12 year old named Bella, @thenookdolls. I loved American Girl Dolls as a kid (and still collect now) and this page was filled with beautiful doll photos. In addition to being a talented doll photographer, Bella was also a helpful volunteer for many causes, a dancer, an athlete, and played the flute in her school band.
One day out of nowhere, Bella said she was in the ER and that something was wrong with her lungs. It was very scary and confusing as Bella has never mentioned being seriously sick before. After many tests, Bella got her diagnosis and it wasn’t pneumonia like we all thought. It was Osteosarcoma, a big, scary word that carried a lot of weight. Bella had been diagnosed with a bone cancer that had spread to her lungs causing the chest pain and shortness of breath. There were so many tumors in her lungs the doctor couldn't even count them all! Bella started her chemotherapy treatments and radiation treatments immediately after her diagnosis.
It was very hard to believe that a fellow 12 year old could be diagnosed with cancer. She was always healthy before this, Bella was only on antibiotics once in her life before. She ate an all-organic diet, and she was an athlete. I watched as Bella’s Instagram account filled with doll photos taken outside was replaced with photos of her in the hospital with her dolls. I watched as Bella documented all her chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and surprise ER visits. I learned a lot about cancer and cancer treatment through Bella documenting her journey online.
I wanted to help Bella but felt so helpless. We were about 927 miles apart and it seemed impossible to do anything from so far away. South Carolina felt like a whole different world than my home in Massachusetts. That is until I saw people sending Bella gifts in the mail filled with accessories and outfits for her dolls, it seemed to really make Bella’s day and it was realistic for me to do something similar. I needed to raise money first. To solve that problem I started selling seashell bracelets at my middle school for a dollar per bracelet, I made $12 by the end and was so excited. To a kid, $12 is a huge deal. I went shopping and got Bella some doll accessories and I wrote her a card along with a tiny card for her doll. After I shipped Bella’s package she wrote back saying she loved it! It didn't take long after that to find more Instagram accounts of kids like Bella. I wanted to send them packages too. So I transformed my bedroom into a Team Cure "office" with packing supplies, toys, and cards. I wanted to start a charitable organization.
I am 19 years old today, in college and I am still running Team Cure. We have now sent over 700 Care Packages to kids from Massachusetts to California, to the UK to Australia and everywhere in between.
Team Cure has been featured on local news stations including
- WCVB
- Boston 25.
Team Cure has also won awards such as
- The Mary Jo Brown Foundation 2019 Spreading Smiles Award
- 2022 Rick Gorman Peace Prize, (Featured 35 minutes into the linked video)
- 2020 WEGO health awards finalist.
I am thankful for all the people who donate to our mission whether that be in forms of time, money, or talent, our Team Cure kids are thankful for you. Remember, it all started with a dream of a child and adults who believed in that dream.
Thank you all for being on Team Cure.
- Lindsey Pacios, Founder and President of Team Cure
Team Cure has been featured on local news stations including
- WCVB
- Boston 25.
Team Cure has also won awards such as
- The Mary Jo Brown Foundation 2019 Spreading Smiles Award
- 2022 Rick Gorman Peace Prize, (Featured 35 minutes into the linked video)
- 2020 WEGO health awards finalist.
I am thankful for all the people who donate to our mission whether that be in forms of time, money, or talent, our Team Cure kids are thankful for you. Remember, it all started with a dream of a child and adults who believed in that dream.
Thank you all for being on Team Cure.
- Lindsey Pacios, Founder and President of Team Cure
Isabella ¨Bella¨ Grace Muntean
March 24, 2003 - April 6, 2018
On April 6, 2018, Bella passed away peacefully after fighting Osteosarcoma courageously for two years, she was only 15 years old.
While Bella was in treatment, she started her charitable ministry organization to help children facing struggles like hers. She called this organization Angel Heart Of Hope. When she was in the hospital, she would give pillowcases filled with toys to children who are also fighting serious illnesses along side her. The photo above of Bella and all the dolls are dolls that she bought not for herself but to donate through her ministry. Bella’s legacy is continued through her family who now run Angel Heart of Hope Ministry where Bella left off. Bella is dearly missed and forever cherished by all those who knew her and by all who are inspired by her. We will never forget her.
While Bella was in treatment, she started her charitable ministry organization to help children facing struggles like hers. She called this organization Angel Heart Of Hope. When she was in the hospital, she would give pillowcases filled with toys to children who are also fighting serious illnesses along side her. The photo above of Bella and all the dolls are dolls that she bought not for herself but to donate through her ministry. Bella’s legacy is continued through her family who now run Angel Heart of Hope Ministry where Bella left off. Bella is dearly missed and forever cherished by all those who knew her and by all who are inspired by her. We will never forget her.