Olivia is my sweet 10-year-old granddaughter, and she means the world to our family. She’s a kind and gentle soul who loves sports, getting involved in her school’s student council, and spending time with her family and friends. Since Olivia became sick, her life has changed dramatically. She hasn’t been able to go to school or anywhere else because of her susceptibilities, and her family is doing everything they can to keep her safe—including a kind of quarantine at home.

Olivia was diagnosed with ANCA vasculitis in July 2025 after experiencing acute kidney failure and severe pulmonary hemorrhaging. ANCA vasculitis is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own blood vessels, causing inflammation and organ damage. In Olivia’s case, the disease severely affected both her kidneys and lungs, causing serious complications that required several weeks of inpatient stay in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Albany Medical Center and a life flight to Boston Children’s Hospital. During this time, she received multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunosuppressant therapy to stop the reproduction of her Vasculitis. She continues to go through ongoing immunosuppressant therapy to help calm her immune system. Although her lungs have made a miraculous recovery, her kidneys have not. As of November 2025 she has been deemed with End Stage Renal Failure where she now requires hemodialysis until she can be fit for a kidney transplant. (Hopefully in Spring to Summer 2026 as long as she remains in remission.)

Right now, Olivia’s mother needs to take her to dialysis three days a week, traveling about two hours each way with Olivia’s two little sisters. The winter roads make it too risky to drive back and forth, so they often need to stay in Albany for safety. This has put a huge strain on the family, both emotionally and financially, as they try to cover travel costs, lodging, and meals while making sure Olivia gets the care she needs.

Olivia is an ambitious young lady with big dreams—she wants to be a renal dietitian and a fashion designer when she grows up. Her curiosity and determination inspire everyone around her, and she never stops setting and accomplishing new goals. Our greatest hope is that Olivia will be able to get the kidney transplant she needs by this summer. Any support you can offer means the world to us and will help Olivia and her family through this difficult time. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.