Support Olivia James in her fight against cancer

We come to you today with a heavy heart and a plea for help for two people very dear to us, our friend Stephanie and her beautiful daughter, Olivia James (Livi). Livi is a former gymnast, a volleyball enthusiast, loves to surf and swim at the beach where she lives and play with her dogs Oliver and Cooper.

On March 1st, Stephanie took Olivia to the local emergency room after she was complaining of dizziness and weakness in her arm.

By a CT scan, doctors found a mass in her spinal cord at the base of her brain stem. Olivia was immediately taken by ambulance to CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia). On March 5th, Olivia underwent an extensive six-hour biopsy surgery followed by a four-hour MRI. Three days later, it was determined that her tumor was inoperable and that she has a very rare aggressive form of cancer. She had lost the use of her right arm and most of her right leg. A devastating diagnosis that has changed their lives forever.

Olivia spent weeks in CHOP as an oncology patient as she started a twenty-eight-day radiation therapy at Penn Medicine. During this time, she was released for a short while and living at the Ronald McDonald house in Philadelphia, commuting to treatments. However, on April 11", Olivia experienced a major setback when she woke up to find that she had no use of any of her limbs. She was rushed back to CHOP where she spent twelve additional days in the Oncology unit where they found inflammation surrounding her tumor which caused this incident.

Olivia was admitted into inpatient rehab to work on regaining her strength, her ability to use her arms and to walk again. She has been in the CHOP rehab for the last five weeks, and will be until the end of June. Livi has also just been accepted into a clinical trial for a new cancer drug which will begin in the upcoming weeks. While Olivia is still not walking on her own and confined to a wheelchair, she has regained some use of her left arm and is working tirelessly and fighting seven days a week to get stronger.

Livi's journey has just begun and Stephanie is by her side fighting

right along with her every day. Given this life altering situation, Stephanie is unable to work at this time. She is living with Livi in Philadelphia between the hospital and the Ronald McDonald House while available to her.

We humbly ask for your support for Olivia James and Stephanie.

Your generous contribution can make a huge difference in providing the best possible care for Livi and help Stephanie cover household expenses while caring for her daughter. Funds will cover much needed medical equipment, a handicapped van, medications, home health care aides and travel expenses for appointments/treatments. Donations will also help the family provide a sense of normalcy for Livi that any teenage girl would want to experience to fill her days with comfort and happiness and perhaps make a few dreams a reality. You will be helping ease the stress of this unbelievable and shocking circumstance that these two very special people are now facing. Every dollar will be used to create a happy healthy environment for Olivia James to fight against this horrific disease and give her and Stephanie the emotional support they desperately need during this most difficult and painful time.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity.

Livi James = WARRIOR

Tracey Slattery and Michele Johnson