Olivia's Thank You

Hi my name is Olivia Palermo, I am now 3 ½ years old and thank you all ………..

For those of you who do not know my story I am a little girl who was born with the unknown. I am almost 4 years old and still go undiagnosed by doctors at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. I was born with congenital heart defect which was repaired successfully on May 1, 2008; I was FINALLY assessed at the Autism Clinic after being on a waiting list for over a year to be told that I do not fit the criteria for the Autism Spectrum, not to mention all of the Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy that I do every week. All this is great but does not answer the questions that parent’s have as to why I am not able to walk or talk and cognitively understand certain things but not all and why my fine motor skills are at the level of a 9 month old.

With all of your help last year my parents were able to get me the help that I needed in order to achieve the goals that I have attained. I was not able to stand on my own and take steps and now I AM, I was not able to sleep due to absent seizures that made me cry continuously with an increase in behavioral aggression for hours on end and now without anymore medication I am able to say that I now have INACTIVE seizure activity as per an EEG done in Feb 2009. I attend daycare 4 days a week and integrated very well with the other children and the educator. My fear and hypersensitivity are much better but still need improvement. I still have a long way to go but with your help I am on the right road.

Olivia is beginning to come out of her shell, slowly but surely we are confident that with time and therapies she will be able to reach her goals. Olivia has come a long way since last year, what may seem trivial to others are giant steps for Olivia. Olivia laughs and smiles all the time, she loves to be hugged and kissed and has so much love to give everyone around her.

Please help my parents help me to get the treatments and therapies that are not covered by our medical system. My parent’s will do everything in their power to help me even if that means taking me anywhere in the world to try experimental treatments. No doctor’s are able to help in telling us what is wrong with me, so I am sure that any parent in the world would do the same for their child.

Thank you to all who helped and contributed to my getting the treatments and therapies necessary in order for me to be where I am today. Thank you for my smile, for my sleeping, for me being able to stand on my own, for being able to hold by bottle and for making me aware of what is going on around me every day. Help me to continue to get everything that my parents are trying to give me.

Olivia Palermo

(If you do not require tax receipt)

Fondation Minorite inVisible

(If you require a tax receipt)

3245 Hector Lussier

Laval QC H7C 2S4

Thank you
Francesca, Luigi & Olivia Palermo

www.helpushelpolivia.com