Meet Olivia – Indiana

Meet Olivia – Angola – age 16

Olivia is 16 years old and a junior at Angola High School. On May 18, 2016 she was diagnosed with T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. That week she had played four basketball games and four softball games (one of which she hit her first triple)! Because of her cold-like symptoms she went to her pediatrician and surprisingly found out about the cancer.  Her treatment plan takes place over 3 years but this type of cancer offers a 95% success rate to be treated and never return!

Olivia enjoys basketball, softball, reading and spending time with her family and friends. Olivia loves helping others and because of this she has raised over $50,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis which is where she goes every week for treatment.

When Olivia was originally diagnosed she had a large mass in her chest. On February 14, 2017 Olivia was found to be cancer free.  In March of 2018 her cancer relapsed in the same spot as before.  Olivia received a bone marrow transplant with her brother Preston being her donor in July 2018. Recovery from a bone marrow transplant is intense. Olivia spent a month at Riley Hospital and then stayed in Indianapolis for another 2 months because of the amount appointments she had. She spent 9 months isolated from the public because of her compromised immune system.

Olivia’s family found out about A Kid Again when another family in northern Indiana told them about it after being invited to do some amazing things! Olivia’s family loved attending a Colts game, and Olivia really enjoyed being on a talk show with AKA’s executive director. They are looking forward to even more opportunities as AKA continues to expand in northern Indiana.

“It’s difficult for the whole family. Mom and dad are trying to make life normal for the siblings while caring for the ill child. It’s rough! There were many times we weren’t sure if Olivia would make it and that’s the worst feeling ever,” Olivia’s mom, Megan says.

“Olivia has had friends with cancer pass away and the fear and guilt she carries inside is huge.  Our family knows more about medical procedures, hospital departments, and medicine than we ever wanted to know. But God has blessed us with so many amazing things through the experience, such as meeting wonderful new friends in this “club” we otherwise wouldn’t sign up for.”

After over a year of physical therapy, doing her entire freshman year of school online and the hard work and dedication of Olivia to regain her strength, Olivia is doing great! Olivia has started an organization called Liv it Up to help bring family normalcy to other childhood cancer patients and their families. Follow her story on facebook or at www.livitup4kids.com.

October 2020