It’s that time of year again. Christmas songs are playing on the radio, families are decorating their Christmas tree, loved ones are gathering. There is anticipation. Excitement. Laughter. Joy. Christmas time is the most wonderful time of the whole year. The time that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our celebration is different this year. Olivia is an angel in heaven, celebrating this beautiful time of year with God and Jesus himself. And our hearts hurt. We miss her! And because we miss her so terribly, we decided to make Christmas about Olivia too. We will celebrate her life by decorating our Christmas tree in honor of her. It is decorated with white and purple butterflies, purple (and other bright colored) ornaments and the Baby’s First Christmas ornaments we were given last year during Wyatt and Olivia’s first Christmas. It is a beautiful tree and makes me smile every time I look at it because I think of her. 

However, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. At least not in my plan. Last year Olivia was battling cancer. We spent our first (and only) Christmas with our princess in a condo in Denver because she had chemo early the next day. She was doing well then but still battling so hard for her life. I told myself that this next Christmas would be so much better. She would be healthy, happy, and cancer free. And we could all be home together. That wasn’t God’s plan though.

There are thousands of families out there right now who are mourning the loss of their loved one to cancer. Trying to figure out how to press on and make this Christmas special for their remaining children. And thousands more whose children are still battling cancer this Christmas, and cancer doesn’t go away just because it is a holiday. These kids will be in the hospital, hooked up to IV’s, fighting infections, fighting pain, getting chemo, radiation, fighting so hard for each and every day. Cancer is a monster.

So, I ask you to please honor my beautiful Olivia and the other children who have gone on to a better place, the children still battling, and those whose battle has yet to begin, by donating to the Olivia Caldwell Foundation for pediatric brain cancer research today. Even a small donation makes a difference. Could you spare $5? Or $10? That is one cup of coffee from Starbucks or one fast food meal. Please share our story with your friends and family and ask them to donate too. 

You can donate by sending a check to Olivia Caldwell Foundation P.O. Box 1112 Rawlins, WY 82301. Or by going to any U.S. Bank location and asking to donate to The Olivia Caldwell Foundation #147490735163. Or you can donate by clicking on this link: http://www.gofundme.com/5j5h4w.

You can make a difference! And the child you help could be yours. 1 in 330 kids will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 18. That is 46 kids every single day. Help us honor them. Thank you and God Bless!