Chapter 2 - Cuts and Carrots

Over this next week, Beckonator was on watch with Cooper as his backup. One day they saw Tumorphus peek out of the woods and he looked smaller. Those milkshakes with medicine seemed to be working! Cooper and the kittens had read a lot of books and decided it was time for Super Olivia to get her first disguise. A haircut that was so different, Tumorphus would never recognize her. Cooper also told Olivia to collect a number of cool hats to get Tumorphus off her trail.

At the Castle of Care, Olivia was instructed to eat as much as possible to keep her strong. She got to eat as many snacks as she wanted. Bring on the Cheetos, shakes, French fries and chicken nuggets. Followed by ice cream and pickles. She also told her parents that she really liked carrots, so they had some delivered. WOW! Holy Cat Tails! Look at those carrots.

This week Olivia will get a double dose of super juices and will need all of you cheering her on! Our next chapter, the magic of unicorns and rainbows...

Chapter 1 - And the quest begins...



Hanging at the Castle of Care

Super Olivia and her team assembled at the Castle of Care to plan a top-secret mission. The doctors hid an almost invisible weapon called a power port in her chest. This allows Olivia to secretly get super juices in her body to make her healthy without Tumorphus knowing. Captain Beckonator communicates with Olivia at the castle to plot the next phase of their plan. It involves milkshakes, strawberries and kittens.



Recharging with the kitties



Olivia comes home and is sneaking medicine into milkshakes so that Tumorphus shrinks a little with each sip. She also eats strawberries that she grows in her own invisible garden to give her super strength. To recharge her energy during the day, Olivia snuggles in with the help of the kitty twins, who use their purring powers to help her sleep.

As Olivia rests, Cooper the investigator researches ways to outsmart Tumorphus and here’s a hint – it involves a disguise! What will Super Olivia look like?
Check back to see in the next chapter…

What will the disguise be?

Comment by Olivia

Olivia says... I’m going to be better kind of by Christmas time.

The Origin Story

The Origin Story

It was a bright sunny afternoon in May 2013 when a tiny baby girl was born and she was named Olivia. She grew up over the next 7 years to be a strong, caring, and funny girl who loved school and playing with her friends. She also had a little brother named Beckett who she loved so much. She also had 3 sidekicks - Copper her dog and sister Siamese kitties - Mohawk and Sparkles. Together, they formed a team to protect, love, and help others. They became Super Olivia, and her trusty sidekicks - the Kitty Power twins, Mohawk and Sparkles, Agent Cooper the investigator and Capitan Beckinator the fearless. They spent their days running off geese, building forts in the woods, and riding bikes and skateboards.

One day Olivia said she did not feel good so she gathered her sidekicks and parents to figure out the mystery. What they found out they could not believe. Olivia’s body was being attacked by the evil villain, Tumorphus! He had implanted a dangerous tumor in her belly and it was up to her doctors, sidekicks, and parents to hatch a plan to defeat the villain and make her body healthy again. Was it going to be easy?  NO! Was she going to feel good all the time?  NO! But were she and her team going to use every weapon they had to destroy Tumorphus?  YES!! 

In the next chapter, we will start our quest for Olivia’s good health. 

What do you think? Any words of encouragement you can share? Any pictures or videos you can post to help her on the next phase of her mission?

Kids cancer - Preface for Adults

Excited Baby Olivia






Preface for Adults (aren’t I fancy)

Many of you either know my family or know Olivia. We had the shock of our lives last week. Last week we thought she had a bladder infection and by Thursday she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - Wilms Tumor. She has a massive tumor within her kidney and spots on her lungs. It is too big to remove given the size (half a football) so we are starting weekly radiation on Friday (6/12) and hope to shrink it to a point that they can remove in 7 weeks. 



Our girl - Olivia

I want to keep people who are interested updated but Caring Bridge seemed too grownup for 7-year-olds and I want her friends to feel comfortable getting updates and sharing comments, pictures, videos, etc. to keep them connected. When she makes it back to school, Olivia will look and probably act a little differently but I know the silly, happy, energetic little girl will be back to us soon.

So, what’s the plan with this blog? I thought it would be more fun for everyone if we did it like a story. Hence, the name of this blog. I’ll be providing chapters as we move through our journey and I’ll have Olivia write her reactions so the kids can hear from her directly and this may even help all the kids’ reading and spelling - but don’t tell them. ;) 

Several people have asked for our address and phone:

Olivia VanderHorst

3930 Shady Oak Rd
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Chris (Dad): 612-203-8422                Kristin (Mom): 612-423-2158
cgolf66@comcast.net                        stentowin@yahoo.com 


Disclaimer: I have no idea if I can pull this off. The last story I probably wrote was in college and for those who knew me then are probably groaning at the possibilities of success - and timeliness. If there are any good writers out there that might have fun with the storytelling, just let me know. I welcome any ghostwriters!