Meet Olivia! She is seven years in treatment for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).

Olivia was diagnosed with DIPG in January 2022. This type of brain tumor is found in the brainstem’s pons area, which controls the body’s vital functions, such as breathing and heart rate. This form of cancer is highly aggressive and almost impossible to treat. Sadly, fewer than 10% of children survive after two years post-diagnosis causing it to be the leading cause of death from pediatric brain tumors. Today, a child diagnosed with DIPG faces the same prognosis as someone diagnosed with the same cancer 40 years ago.

Olivia carried out her standard care of radiation and chemotherapy and is now in a clinical trial focused on finding a cure. This trial uses personalized, vaccine-based immunotherapy to encourage her body to fight this disease on its own.

Olivia’s general health has shown no signs of slowing down, and her tumor is stable in her recent scans. The strength and courage that Olivia shows are characteristics of her personality. She continues to be a bright light for her family throughout everything, and her family describes her as their little firecracker!

Olivia was recently in our 2023 Ferraris and Fashion Funds the Cure event and walked the runway during her Dream Walk as a Veterinarian!