10/27/2025
Bridgette Bello, publisher of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine, recently shared with us her powerful journey filled with resilience, hope, and unexpected strength.
2017 was a year that tested every part of Bridgette’s strength. Within months, her husband’s job was eliminated, her family was displaced from their home by Hurricane Irma, and she received a breast cancer diagnosis.
Her journey began with an abnormal mammogram. Bridgette was referred to the Susan Cheek Needler Breast Center at Morton Plant Hospital. Further testing confirmed she would need a lumpectomy followed by weeks of radiation treatment.
The next challenge was to find the right surgeon. Ernestine Morgan, her friend and the former CEO and President of Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation, recommended Dr. Peter Blumencranz. Bridgette remembered meeting him six years earlier when his daughter’s artwork had been chosen for the cover of Book of Lists. Walking into his office and seeing that very piece of artwork on the wall, she felt an unexpected peace and felt that it was a sign she was exactly where she was meant to be.
Her surgery was performed at Morton Plant Hospital with Dr. Blumencranz’s colleague, Dr. Kathleen Allen. After a successful procedure, she endured radiation treatment twice daily, eight hours apart.
As a trusted figure in the community, Bridgette’s cancer journey was not private. In fact, her then teenage daughter shared updates on social media. She embraced her vulnerability and felt it was important to be honest about her treatment and progress. Bridgette believes this exposure allowed people to turn to her as a resource for their own personal cancer diagnosis.
Today, Bridgette continues to refer friends and colleagues to Morton Plant Hospital, proudly stating, “I’m your biggest fan.” Despite the challenges, she describes her cancer care as seamless made possible by a care team who provided a clear path and surrounded her with extraordinary, compassionate care.
On July 18, Bridgette celebrated eight years cancer free. Her journey, marked by courage and resilience, is one she shares to give hope to others who find themselves on the same path.
