About Olivia Cook
Join us this Sunday for one more magical day of summer. LivFest 2012 is our third annual celebration of life and community to help raise funds for the Children's Organ Transplant Association. Live music will start at noon with the snap happy, foot stomping, sway-wiggly sounds of Chivalry TImbers. Come for lunch and play in the green as Warren Allen, Jesse Gilsoul and the rest of the band fiddle into your heart and soul with their groovy souls of old-timey folk. Kids of all ages are invited to play in the inflatables (bouncy houses and sumo wrestling suits), dance and sway to the groovin tunes, or just nestle into the green for a great series of shows. Face painting, grilled and chilled foods, and kids activities will be at your finger tips all day as well in the Village Green in Fairhaven.
Chill in the green after lunch to the dazzling musical talents of Susan Ruth, Courtney Kendall and Danica Kilander in their solo performances of inspiring music that will touch your heart and make you smile.
Snug Harbor, our local, world famous funk-soul-fusion ensemble, will start rocking the Green with their full-ensemble funk at 1:45. We'll let the good times roll until 7pm this Sunday evening so grab your friends and come on down. Join us for the community drum circle at 3:30, the gypsy band at 5:15, or just lay back and listen to the etherial sounds from our very own local heroes: the Bellingham Firefighters Pipes and Drums as they weave their way through the crowd at 5pm.
LivFest 2012 is a full day of fun to celebrate life, community and the tenacious spirit of all those who fight for life. Buy a sweatshirt, a waterbottle or grab a tee to carry this story of hope with you throughout the year. This is the story of all of us: how one person can change a life, and many together can change the world.
(please continue reading if you'd like a reminder of our inspiration)
This is Olivia's Story; the LivLife Story.
It is a story of Strength, Collaboration, Wellness and Faith!
It is the Stone Soup of Medical Miracles, the seed of the Giving Tree of dreams. This is the story of all of us Together... how one person can change a life, and many can Change the World!
Graced with bright blue eyes, sandy blond hair and chubby cheeks, Olivia Cook, age six in May, is tiny for her age. Born and diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, Olivia carries around a distended stomach, and is subjected to needles, a feeding tube and medicines every day. Nevertheless, she is nothing short of a miracle.
Her parents discovered her illness, Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD), when Olivia was 18 months old. Most children with this disease do not survive birth; those who do rarely make it long in this world. The fact that Olivia’s illness was hidden for more than a year stands as a testament to her incredible Strength and Fighting Will.
ARPKD attacks the kidneys, filling them with cysts that hinder the natural function of the organ. In Liv’s case, it also attacks her spleen and liver, making it difficult for her body to filter impurities, distending her midsection and squishing her stomach. Olivia has to take growth hormones because her body went so long without receiving the vitamins and minerals necessary for development. She also is a slave to a feeding tube so her little body can receive the slow-drip nutrition her stomach can’t absorb during her normally tiny meals.
Smaller than most of her classmates, generally disposed to quick exhaustion, and endlessly subjected to medical treatments most of us pray to avoid, Olivia is a surprise: upon meeting her, you’d never assume that this Bundle of Light and Joy is battling for her life. Olivia needs a kidney transplant to stay alive.
Olivia's dad was originally considered to be the prime candidate for kidney donation; unfortunately he was diagnosed with two forms of rare terminal cancer and is currently fighting for both his daughters' life and his own. Liv's mom Kimberly went through great pains to be considered as a match, but is unfortunately unable to donate at this time. A local fitness instructor, Danica Kilander, tested next and was able to donate her kidney to Olivia on July 14, 2010. Many angels have gathered together to offer support and create a program to help out.
The cost of a transplant and related expenses can be overwhelming. The Good News is, we are all in this fight together! Olivia's community created a campaign called LivLife. We are working through COTA to create a lasting fundraising campaign to help families like Olivia's cope with transplant related expenses.
The short and simple message of it all is that this is a burden too great to carry alone. This is the time to define and create community...humanity. Olivia's story could be any one of ours. She is our daughter, our sister, ourselves... And she needs our help.
This is the moment to live out your potential. Consider...how will you help? Please play on our website to see how you can get involved. We invite you to leave a message for Olivia in the guest book.
If you have any questions, please call Danica Kilander, LivLife Coordinator at 360-393-9133, or via e-mail at