Disclosure: I did not receive any monetary compensation in exchange for this post
This story was shared with me by a classmate of (A)’s…
Gabrielle Paige Olivo was a typical sweet and adventurous two year old who loved all things princess, Dora the Explorer and her ballet classes when, just this past August, two and a half weeks before she turned three, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a particularly aggressive form of cancer that affects only children. Gabi’s diagnosis came just 2 days after her new baby brother, Alex, came home.
Upon learning that the tumor was malignant, Gabi’s father John immediately rushed her to Long Island Winthrop hospital where it took 3 surgeons to partially resect the tumor that was in her stomach. It had grown to be the size of a grapefruit. Furthermore, the cancer was found to have spread to her legs, shoulder, ribs, and lymph nodes. Gabi never showed a single symptom. The family never even got a chance to be a foursome before they were split apart with one parent living in the hospital with Gabi and one taking care of brand new baby Alex at home. Since then Gabi has had 3 rounds of intense chemo therapy as well as a stem cell harvest to prepare for the marrow destroying consolidation treatment. She has a very long road ahead.
While her family was quickly thrust into an edition of “extreme parenting,” fun loving Gabi has kept up her smile and dance moves the whole time. Whether she’s decorating her OWN crown, singing her theme song “I Totally Rock”, or making sure her baby dolls are properly swaddled, this little girl is proving that she’s not only a beautiful little ballerina but also a strong fighter and her family is tackling this difficult situation head on. As such, it seemed only fitting with a rocker like Gabi to have a benefit concert in her honor.
