Help Olivia Barry-Wilson & her family fight a brain tumour

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted individuals.

With heavy hearts and tear-filled eyes, we share devastating news about our dear friends Brittany Barry and Dan Wilson and their beloved daughter, Olivia.

Over the past few days, the Barry-Wilson family have been facing a nightmare that no young family should have to bear, after a sudden medical crisis led to Olivia being airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH).

After showing symptoms that initially seemed to suggest a common sickness, two local Emergency Room visits, numerous tests and needle pokes, Olivia’s condition quickly worsened, and a CT scan showed something far more serious – her brain was bleeding.

After arriving to BCCH and undergoing further testing, Olivia has been diagnosed with a tumour in her brain. While doctors are still determining the exact type, they have revealed that the tumour is bleeding into her brain, with a fragment resting near her brain stem – causing dangerous swelling and blocking proper blood drainage. The head of Neurosurgery described both her CT and MRI images as “wild”, a word that no family ever wants to hear in such a critical condition.

The current plan is to wait for the swelling and bleeding in Olivia’s brain to go down, at which she will then undergo neurosurgery to perform a biopsy. This means that they will be cutting into Olivia’s skull and taking a piece of tumour out for further testing and determination – the type of tumour, whether it is benign or malignant and the next steps to better understand and address her condition.

The neurosurgery team will be critical in determining next steps; whether further surgical and/ or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy) will be needed, but regardless the family is about to endure a long and scary road ahead.

On top of the distress, heartbreak, fear and uncertainty they are facing, there is also the financial burden. Medical bills, travel costs, helping Olivia with a sense of normalcy to pass the time in their new “home” (a hospital room), and time away from work – it’s overwhelming.

Now more than ever, Olivia, Brittany, and Dan need our love, strength and support. Please consider helping in any way you can. If you are unable to contribute financially, then please consider sharing this GoFundMe campaign on any (or all!) of your social media streams.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. Your prayers, well wishes, love and support mean the world to them. Let’s come together and show this amazing little girl and her family that they are not alone.

With gratitude,

Barry-Wilson family & friends