Tanyiah Bell, 19, was 8 months pregnant when her boyfriend, Kaiheem Williams, 19, shot and killed her on November 14, 2024. And though Bell unfortunately succumbed to her injuries, doctors managed to deliver her baby, and the minor survived.
The day was also bittersweet for Bell’s mother, Tylicia Bell, because she lost her daughter and welcomed her granddaughter, named Tanyiah Miracle Bell, to the world.
“When I first set eyes on her in the NICU, I just knew that she’s her miracle,” Tylicia told WPVI. “I knew that God left me something because I lost my only child.”
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Recalling the incident, Tylicia said that doctors “got Miracle out within 5 minutes” when Tanyiah got to the hospital after she was shot. “When they pulled her out, she was gray,” she added.
But baby Miracle is not yet out of the woods, as she’s still hospitalized at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “She’s a true fighter,” Tylicia said about her granddaughter.
“Everything she’s been through, we’ve gotten through. She’s been fighting through it, and we’ve been right by her side every step of her way.”
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Tylicia said her granddaughter’s oxygen level was low when she was delivered, resulting in the baby sustaining a serious brain injury. To aid with her breathing, baby Miracle is on a tracheostomy tube. She has also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, WPVI reported.
“She may never be able to walk. She can’t blink. She can’t smile. She can’t react to us, but the doctors did say she has perfect eyes and perfect ears, so I know she sees the love, hears the love,” Tylicia said.
Despite her condition, Tylicia said baby Miracle looks just like her deceased mother. “I feel like I’m raising my daughter all over again,” she said. “I wish my daughter was here to see this, but I know she’s watching over us and is like, ‘Mom, you got this,'” she also said.
Though baby Miracle has been diagnosed with an infection, Tylicia is optimistic that her granddaughter will be discharged in two months. But arrangements have to be made for several things, including specialized medical equipment, a bigger vehicle, a home revamp, and round-the-clock care.
Tylicia is trying to get financial support to help with the expenses, and she has expressed gratitude for the assistance they have received.
Williams faces charges including murder and attempted murder. His next court date is set for July 22.
