Olivia Dein
Great Britain- A Biography of Olivia Dane
- A Christmas Wish
- Early Signs of Illness
- Fighting Against All Odds
- Life with Limitations
A Biography of Olivia Dane
Olivia Dane is a British girl who has been a victim of cystic fibrosis since early childhood. At the age of 9, she knows more about sadness and anger than many adults do. While medical professionals search for new ways to help Olivia, she decided to reach out to a potentially more powerful source - she wrote a letter to Santa Claus.
A Christmas Wish
As the holidays approach, children all over the world are listing the gifts they want to receive from Santa Claus and Father Frost. Some dream of getting a puppy or even a pony, while others wish for a branded doll set or a remote-controlled helicopter. This year, 9-year-old Olivia Dane has a very simple request for Santa Claus - she wants more than anything to get better. Olivia was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was just 5 weeks old. The diagnosis has always been equivalent to a death sentence, albeit one that was delayed in time. Both Olivia and her loved ones are well aware of the statistics and the slim chances she has of surviving into her teenage years. This, of course, dampens the Christmas spirit for the family.
Early Signs of Illness
Olivia's mother, 36-year-old Sara Dane, suspected that something was wrong with her daughter as soon as she was born. Olivia's body refused to expel the normal meconium stool that is typical for newborns. It was this abnormality that prompted the additional tests, which revealed Olivia's incurable disease at the age of 5 weeks. At that time, the Dane family had never even heard of cystic fibrosis. Olivia's older siblings, 5-year-old Jessica and 3-year-old Dylan, were lucky enough not to be affected by the disease. Unfortunately, this does not alleviate the severity of Olivia's situation.
Fighting Against All Odds
Medical science has made significant progress over the years, but victory over cystic fibrosis still remains a dream for doctors. Olivia herself is working on one of the few truly promising sources of salvation - she is writing letters to Santa Claus. In her letter to St. Nicholas, Olivia tells him about herself and her illness. She understands that she lives a better life than many other children and is aware that many kids can only dream of the toys and the standard of living she has become accustomed to. However, toys and dolls are of little interest to Olivia right now - she wants more than anything to grow up.
Life with Limitations
The disease continues to impose many restrictions on Olivia's life. It's unlikely she will live past the age of 40, and even turning 20 would be a cause for celebration. There are more immediate limitations as well - for example, Olivia is strictly prohibited from swimming in pools that may contain germs. She has to avoid sick people at all costs, as a seemingly common illness could cause unimaginable harm. Instead of parties and sleepovers with friends, Olivia has to attend physiotherapy sessions. These limitations evoke a complex mix of sadness and frustration in Olivia. Even the punching bag her parents gave her cannot contain all her anger. Partial relief came from therapy sessions, but the doctor could not solve the problem as a whole. In a way, Olivia took control of the situation herself, finding some solace in sharing her story of cystic fibrosis, its origins, and its consequences with her entire class. Her friends are understanding, but Olivia dislikes feeling like a disabled person and longs to be just an ordinary child, not standing out from the rest. For now, she can only hope for a Christmas miracle - a breakthrough in medical science.
