| Ian Troxell | Carol Carbone | Krista Harakal | Nicole Fort | Darryl Goode |
| Paul Scheuerle | Millie Stenhouse | Kurt Cortazzo | Olivia Sterner |

The Year That Was

Olivia Sterner was only two when doctors diagnosed a brain tumor. The year that followed proved just how strong this little girl could be—with a little help from her friends at Good Shepherd

The waiting was agony. One hour became two, then three, then five. Down the hall in an operating room at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), 2-year-old Olivia Sterner was being operated on for removal of a brain tumor. All her young parents Jessica Greif and Luke Sterner could do was wait.

Although they hoped for the best, the worst case scenarios played out in their minds. The surgery could leave little Olivia unable to speak, walk or swallow. She could wind up in a vegetative state, needing round-the-clock care her entire life.

“Every time someone came out of the operating room doors, my heart pounded out of my chest,” Jessica recalls.

Finally, the surgeon emerged and approached the anxious parents. Everything went well, he said. There appeared to be no lasting damage.

Relief washed over Jessica and Luke. Still, Olivia would need a lot of help with her balance and coordination. Her journey to recovery was only just beginning and it would bring her to Good Shepherd’s Dornsife Pediatric Center.

When Olivia was born, Jessica looked into her daughter’s beautiful blue eyes and saw perfection. What she didn’t see, couldn’t see, was the tumor growing in the back of her baby’s brain in an area controlling balance and coordination. But as Olivia grew, Jessica noticed her daughter had difficulty walking.

A battery of tests and X-rays revealed no abnormalities. Then, in January 2005, Olivia’s pediatrician sent her for a brain scan. This time the news wasn’t so good. Olivia had a brain tumor the size of two golf balls.

“Her father had a seizure when he heard the news,” Jessica says. “Our whole world was turned upside down.”

Olivia was rushed to CHOP’s pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Doctors weren’t certain if the tumor was cancerous. What was certain was it needed to be removed – and soon. The next day, Olivia was operated on. As it turned out, the tumor wasn’t cancerous. But Olivia’s surgery wasn’t over. A post-surgical brain scan revealed a tiny piece of tumor remained. A second surgery was done – another anxious wait for Jessica and Luke. Three hours later, surgery was successfully completed and Olivia was transferred to her bed in the PICU.

“She had tubes coming out of her head and she was so swollen. She didn’t look at all like herself,” Jessica says. “But she was so strong.”

Olivia was released to Children's Seashore House in Philadelphia where her physical and occupational therapy began. After about two weeks, it was time to go home to Kunkletown, Pa., a small rural community. Now, Jessica’s parents had to find some place to continue Olivia’s therapy.

“I had heard Good Shepherd had a good reputation and when I mentioned Good Shepherd at Seashore House, the therapists agreed it was a good place,” Jessica says.

In February 2005, Olivia was scheduled to begin her therapy at Good Shepherd, about a 45-minute drive from Kunkletown. But on the ride down, Olivia began vomiting. Doctors readmitted her to CHOP and put a shunt in her head to drain excess fluid that had been building inside her skull. That shunt will remain with Olivia throughout her life, and she will continue to be carefully monitored for any reoccurrence of the tumor.

Finally back at home, Olivia was strong enough to start her therapy. It began with two-hour sessions, five days a week to improve her motor skills and coordination, and strengthen her legs. Gradually, though, Olivia made headway, gaining strength and delighting her parents and therapists with each passing day. She’s now doing so well, she only needs physical therapy once a week.

January 3, 2006, was cause for a real celebration. Olivia turned 3. To mark the occasion, Jessica and Luke rented a firehouse hall for a party attended by nearly 50 family members and friends. There was a hot-pink sheet cake, pink and purple balloons, and a pile of presents taller than Olivia.

Dressed in a beautiful pink cloud of a dress, Olivia scampered about the room, still a little unsteady on her feet, but as happy as any 3-year-old could be. All around, signs declared the good news: “Olivia. Congratulations on 1 Year Tumor Free!” read one; ““We Are So Proud of You!” read another.

“We could have gone someplace closer to home for Olivia’s therapy, but I don’t think we would have received the same kind of services,” Jessica says. “I love her therapists and Olivia does too. It’s a lot of fun for her. I didn’t think my daughter would be able to walk again but she’s doing great.”