Meet Olivia
Olivia’s Prevailing Story of Hope
It was January 29, 2010 when Patrick and Erika proudly welcomed their first child, Olivia, a healthy 7lbs 4oz, 19.5 inch girl, who would grow into a happy, expressive, artistic, and energetic child with an infectious smile. Olivia loved playing with toys, making crafts, playing with friends, and attending kids’ ministry hour at their church every Sunday. Olivia’s brother, Enzo, was born 2½ years later, and the family settled into the typical rhythms of life.
Two weeks before her 7th birthday, while Erika and the kids were with friends at the Bolsa Chica wetlands, Olivia told her Mommy she was so tired she could no longer walk, so Erika ended up carrying Olivia piggyback-style. Erika thought it was very unusual, but at the time, dismissed it as lack of sleep. In celebration of Olivia’s 7th birthday at a family fun center, Erika happily took pictures of the kids and their friends. As Erika looked at her photos of that happy day, she noticed bruises on Olivia’s legs. Just 3 days later, blood came out of Olivia’s mouth while brushing her teeth, and Erika also noticed little red pin prick dots on her body’s lower extremities. Olivia was immediately rushed to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). The family anxiously waited for lab results in the emergency room that would explain simple, overlooked, and misunderstood signs – fatigue, dark eye circles, bruises, bleeding gums, and loss of appetite. Then came the diagnosis and the words that would change their lives forever: T-Cell Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a fast-growing blood cancer of lymphocyte-forming cells called lymphoblasts.
During 2+ years of treatment, Olivia’s family had to find a new “normal” as she racked up over 70 nights at CHOC. There was a dizzying schedule of appointments, chemo treatments, lab work, acupuncture sessions, and hospital activities. As Erika sat beside her daughter watching Olivia sleep one day at the hospital, she silently cried – a break from the brave face she had to show otherwise. Through the highs & lows and all the moments in between, Olivia maintained the sweetest perspective, never complained, and welcomed each day with a smile.
With regular visits from family and friends, “goodnight” story time on video calls, and Dad’s cooking, Olivia quickly learned to embrace her new life. A community of friends, people from church, and even those they had never met, quickly mobilized and rallied around their family with love, support, and prayers. In all, Olivia received 70+ infusion chemo treatments and months of oral chemo. Finally, on May 9, 2019, with much joy & gratitude, Olivia rang the bell at CHOC, signifying her last treatment.
During Olivia’s journey, she was featured in a Hyundai commercial for CHOC’s Infusionarium, was a recipient of the Carsyn Neille Foundation’s Rooms to Thrive, was honored at CHOC’s Glass Slipper Guild Gala, received Gold Rush Cure Foundation’s ‘Pot of Gold’, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation treated her family to a week in paradise at Disney’s Aulani resort to celebrate her survivorship.
Today, Olivia is now 11 years old. She continues to thrive post treatment and engages in many activities including drawing, swimming, skateboarding & dancing. She touches the spirit of everyone who meets her. In the midst of the most challenging times of their lives, Olivia and her family felt deeply blessed by the kindness of many, and they sought to find a way to help other children with cancer & their parents. Next, read the story of how Prevailing Crowns came to be…
