Olivia’s Story: A Family’s Journey Through Dance and Healing

Navigating family life and milestones

Olivia’s identical twin sister, Sophie, struggled with Olivia’s illness, too. The girls had been inseparable since birth. Now, she faced fifth grade alone.

“She lost her buddy,” Sandra said. “That year was hard on her, too.”

Despite missing much of fifth grade, Olivia was well enough to walk across the stage at graduation. She returned to school in sixth grade — but just 3 days later, she landed back in the ER for sepsis.

Small joys made the long hospital stays bearable: therapy dogs, visits from friends and time spent drawing. Olivia’s artwork was later featured in The Periwinkle Foundation’s Making A Mark^®, an exhibit for children touched by cancer and blood disorders that was established at Texas Children’s and travels around the world.

Celebrating remission

After more than two years of treatment, Olivia rang the bell to mark the end of her cancer treatment in September 2024 — a milestone she chose to celebrate at a party surrounded by friends and family.

“We called it her ‘welcome back to the world’ party,” Sandra said. “So many people came to celebrate.”

Olivia and her family enjoyed a Make-A-Wish trip to Hawaii, and a duet performance with Sophie marked her return to the dance world. She’s now an officer on her dance team and performs traditional Chinese dance at cultural events along with her sister.

Advice for other families

Sandra hopes that Olivia’s story helps other parents navigate the uncertainty of a new diagnosis.

“Don’t despair,” she said. “I didn’t find support with other parents soon enough — It makes a huge difference to talk to people who understand. Find a support group and take it one day at a time.”

Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center

Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center — one of the largest pediatric cancer centers in the United States — is ranked among the best in the nation. Its world-renowned staff of nearly 200 faculty and more than 1,000 employees pioneered many of the now-standard protocols for treating and curing pediatric cancer and blood disorders. Today, more than 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer in the United States are successfully treated and cured — a remarkable improvement in outcomes.

In 2025, Texas Children’s Hospital announced a partnership with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Together, the two programs are launching Kinder Children’s Cancer Center with one mission: to end childhood cancer. This joint venture offers unprecedented opportunities to advance treatment and instill hope in families for a future without childhood cancer.

Learn more about Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center.