Olivia had been suffering severe headaches for two weeks prior to the 22nd April 2016 when our family GP made the decision to send Olivia for a CT scan. After the scan we were told to go straight to Royal North Shore Hospital. Olivia was diagnosed with a Grade 4 GBM and was taken for emergency brain surgery to hopefully remove the tumour and alleviate the pressure on the brain. The surgery went we
ll and they removed most of the tumour. Olivia had a long recovery ahead but all was looking positive for her treatment plan. Olivia was re-admitted to hospital with complications on 13 May 2016. On this particular trip to the hospital Olivia wrote this message on her social media page:
‘No one ever expects anything to ever happen to them, and why would we? But when you get told something is wrong and maybe your year isn’t going on the path you expected, your priorities really get a shuffle. You realise things are not important and that memories and feelings are everything. So let us all make 2016 not just about you, but about our families, our friends, our dreams and our goals. Make it your year to reach a little higher or to go a little further! Because next year might not be your year... .’
We feel this passage is something we should all remember and reflect upon. Love and happiness was truely the best medicine for Olivia. Olivia attended Mt Wilga Rehab Hospital two days a week and was doing so well. She was showing amazing strength and courage. She was recovering well from her surgery and looking at potentially going back to work a few days a week. However, in May 2017 Olivia’s tumour started to grow back aggressively and the Doctors told us it was inoperable. They tried Chemotherapy for a short time but it was unable to slow down the cancer. Olivia passed away peacefully at home on 27th July 2017 surrounded by family and her fiancée Daniel. Olivia’s passing has left a huge hole in our hearts. She was the funny, bright and witty one in the family. The sparkle in our lives. It was Olivia’s wish to raise $50,000 for brain cancer research and we have committed ourselves to continue fundraising and creating awareness in our local community about this terrible disease. We have made the promise to our girl that we will “Live for Liv’. Brain Cancer kills more children than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other Cancer. That’s why it’s vital we help to raise funds for research. Every single contribution brings us closer to a cure. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support x
** All proceeds are donated to The Mark Hughes Foundation in honour of Olivia Caitlin Addison.
