Olivia Rae Handler
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Olivia Rae Handler
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"According to all known laws of aviation,
there is no way a bee should be able to fly.
Its wings are too small to get its body off the ground.
The bee, of course, flies anyway.
Because bees don't care what you think is impossible."
Barry B. Benson - Bee Movie
Olivia spent her life defying the odds.
Through her own unmitigated determination, exceptional care by her medical team, the support of friends, family, educators, and sacrifices in the past from those who bore the weight of similar challenges, Olivia flourished.
When your life is spent facing long odds however, the numbers eventually have their way. On April 22, 2017, after sharing her joy with us for nearly 2,000,000 minutes, Olivia was set free from this world.
Our little fighter stood toe to toe with a combination of ultimately insurmountable obstacles in the only way she knew how. By overcoming many, offering surprises at every turn, and battling all the way with joy.
Cards may be sent to our home, but please no flowers or perishables. Instead, please scroll down to understand how we would like Olivia honored.
This video is Olivia in a nutshell. It's about 2 minutes long and may take time to load
In Memoriam
In Memoriam
How we would like olivia honored
Olivia's circumstance was unique, her life's events were uncommon, and her personality was absolutely one-of-a-kind. So it is only fitting that she should be honored in a distinctive way. We've also run out of synonyms for "unique", so here are your choices:
- This one isn't an option, go do something unexpectedly special for your kid(s). Big or small, it doesn't matter. Just make it meaningful in a way they will enjoy
- ALL STAR - Donate Blood - It makes more of a difference than you could ever imagine
- ROCK STAR - Donate Platelets/Plasma or "Power Red" - It takes longer than just giving blood and so most donors simply don't go this route. But Platelets are a vital element of cancer and organ transplant treatments, as well as many surgical procedures as they help prevent massive blood loss
- SUPER STAR - Donate to the Delaware Music School in memory of Olivia. The full link to their donation page is MusicSchoolOfDelaware.org/giving.html. Please remember to put "Olivia Handler" in the "In Memory Of" section. Olivia absolutely loved her music classes and therapies, and they were tremendously helpful in advancing her speech, mobility, and social comfort. 50% of their annual budget must come from donations, so any contribution is meaningful
BONUS LEVEL - Donate to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children - CLICK HERE for their general donation page - A few sentences could not do justice to the remarkable care provided to Olivia and our Family by the team at Nemours. Virtually every single person we encountered offered their support, assistance, and comfort in countless ways. Their Child Life Program allows for donation of physical goods for the kids. While their standard monetary donations are tax deductible and often times matched by employers
The Plan
The Plan
Every Plan Is A Tiny Prayer To Father Time
Olivia loved a good plan. Every morning she wanted to know the plan. Then she would ask someone else just to make sure everyone knew. In retrospect, it makes sense now as a plan is the future. Whether or not Olivia inherently knew of the tenuous nature of her future, you better have had a plan when walking into her room first thing in the morning.
So our plan now is to hold a small, private ceremony with only immediate family members. It will be done in a location and style that Olivia would have enjoyed immensely.
FOR CARE PROVIDERS - If you participated in her care, education, or therapy, OR were a regular presence in her life, please know that we are planning a few different ways to honor Olivia and help kids in similar circumstances. Stay tuned or feel free to reach out and ask how you can help using the "Send A Message" section below.
FOR FRIENDS AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT US - We appreciate your support and help more than we can express. In the coming weeks and months we will reach out to each of you individually or in small groups. That way we can take what makes our relationship with you special, and wrap it in a meaningful experience to remember Olivia.
Pics & Vids
Pics & Vids
Some of Our Favorites
Click Any Pic To Zoom
A Video Playlist
More than 50 of our favorite Olivia videos
A Few Of Our Absolute Favorite Videos
Send A Message
Send A Message
Send Olivia A Message
Olivia has her own email address and the button below will allow you to send her a private message.
No one will ever read those messages except Olivia, you have our word. We will occasionally log in to the account to ensure it stays active. But we will not, under any circumstances, read the emails
If you would like her actual email address, contact us and we'll be happy to provide it
MESSAGE US
We are grateful to each and everyone who touched Olivia's life.
The button below will deliver a message directly to us and we will read every one, and respond accordingly. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
We plan to create a program of support for those in similar circumstances. Stay tuned.
