Olivia Beam
Like your child, Olivia loves the outdoors, bike riding, playing with her friends, sleepovers, summer camp, and Little League softball. When she was well, Olivia made artwork out of whatever she found — pine cones, pussy willows, drink coasters. She caught snakes and salamanders with her father, Will. She once caught a tiny mouse she named Nibbles because it ate Froot Loops and cheese out of her hand. She was the only girl on a wrestling team of 75 boys at Pakanasink Elementary School in Circleville, N.Y.
Olivia can't wiggle a toe, flex a finger, or scratch an itch. She's been paralyzed below her neck since an unknown disease started eating away at her nervous system. Doctors suspect the disease is similar to West Nile virus, contracted through a mosquito bite. But they're not certain. Neurologists, oncologists, hematologists and other specialists — all of whom tested the little girl — remain stumped. Whatever it is, it destroyed the myelin sheath on nerve fibers throughout her body.
During two months in intensive care, Olivia's heart failed at times. She was clinically dead for 45 seconds before doctors brought her back to life. Her intestines also ruptured and had to be patched with part of her pancreas. Eight surgeries, including two spinal biopsies, showed only dead cells in her spinal cord.
Olivia needs a respirator to breathe. And although she can talk through a tracheal valve, it takes so much energy to speak that she mainly communicates by blinking — one blink for yes, two for no.
Your help and contributions will help put a smile on Olivia's face. All proceeds will go to Olivia and family to help them find a diagnosis, and allow her to grow up as a normal girl.
Please join us on Sunday, April 26th to make this happen. Bring friends, family and children to show support for Olivia Beam.
For more information contact Angela or Cindy at 845-344-4653.
Where: Golds Gym 15 Industrial Drive Middletown NY, 10941
Date: Sunday 4/26/09
Time: 8:00am
http://friendsofolivia.com/
http://www.goldsgym.com/
