South Suburban Girl Hosts Fundraiser And Blood Drive For Children With Sickle Cell Disease

Nine-year-old Olivia Shorter (pictured) from Matteson recently hosted her annual Olivia’s Sickle Cell Awareness Party to celebrate her birthday and to bring awareness to the realities of sickle cell disease which she has lived with since she was born. Photo Credit: Provided by the family of Olivia Shorter
Nine-year-old Olivia Shorter (pictured) from Matteson recently hosted her annual Olivia’s Sickle Cell Awareness Party to celebrate her birthday and to bring awareness to the realities of sickle cell disease which she has lived with since she was born. Photo Credit: Provided by the family of Olivia Shorter

South Suburban Girl Hosts Fundraiser And Blood Drive For Children With Sickle Cell Disease

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

A 9-year-old resident from Matteson, Oliva Shorter, recently hosted her third annual Olivia’s Sickle Cell Awareness Party at the Matteson Community Center. Like the children who will benefit from the party, Olivia lives with sickle cell disease and before her 7th birthday, she decided she no longer wants to have a party for just herself, but a party for all the kids living with sickle cell disease.

Olivia was born with sickle cell disease which is an inherited blood disorder that causes anemia, lung and tissue damage, strokes, and chronic pain, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

“We’ve been blessed and fortunate enough to give Olivia the best care. It’s been okay but it is very saddening during the times when she has to go through some her pain crisis. We try to prevent the pain crisis as much as possible but it’s still tough when we’re unable to. And just to see your daughter in pain, it’s a very humbling experience,” said Adam Shorter, Olivia’s father and a Village of Matteson Trustee.

“It’s really tough on [Olivia]. When she isn’t sick, she is getting over a cold or on her way to get another blood transfusion,” said Danielle Shorter, Olivia’s mother.

Not only does Olivia invite children from all over the Greater Chicagoland Area to come and celebrate her birthday, but she also encourages the adults who attend to donate blood during the party which can help kids who are currently living with sickle cell diseases and regularly need blood transfusions.

“It’s a blessing for her to be so knowledgeable and so aware, because what one adult can’t communicate to a child, a child can communicate to another child. This event brings kids together and brings awareness to the youth so that they will be aware of what the disease is and it wouldn’t be a scary situation for them because they’ll be more aware. I’m very happy that Olivia is knowledgeable and energetic. It’s exciting to know that the future is bright for this disease because we have young, active individuals such as Olivia pushing the information forward,” said Trustee Shorter.

For those who were unable to attend Olivia’s Sickle Cell Awareness Party, Trustee Shorter encourages them to consider making a blood donation to help those living with sickle cell disease or to make a financial donation to help Olivia continue on with her sickle cell awareness efforts.

“We would love for individuals to go to the website and to continue to contribute or donate. What is more important for us is that we are able to create a long-lasting impression and we want to create a scholarship for students that are battling this disease so they can go to college,” said Trustee Shorter.

To learn more about sickle cell disease and what you can do to help Olivia bring awareness to the disease, visit www.sickleschmickle.org.

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