Tune in on December 11 & 12 for Variety's Two Days of Compassion Radiothon presented by Hy-Vee on Newsradio 1040 WHO and 106.3 KXNO on the Iowa Sports Radio Network, along with KDAT in eastern Iowa.
When Olivia arrived at the hospital at 37 weeks pregnant, she had no idea how drastically life was about to change. After a sudden rupture, she underwent an emergency c-section where her baby boy, Linus, was delivered detached from the placenta and no longer breathing. The medical team acted quickly, performing CPR and rushing him to the NICU. Olivia and her husband were told that had they arrived even moments later, neither she nor Linus would be here today.
Linus was diagnosed with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), a serious brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen. As a result, he now lives with multiple complex medical conditions, including focal epilepsy, dystonia, spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, and challenges with airway and feeding that require both a tracheostomy and G-tube. His immune system is fragile, and he frequently battles illnesses like rhinovirus.
Through every challenge, Linus continues to show strength, and his family does the same. While caring for their medically complex newborn, Olivia and her husband were also managing life with a toddler and navigating a period of unemployment. Long hospital stays added emotional exhaustion and financial strain.
During one of their hospital stays, the Variety Compassion Fund stepped in to help. A week’s worth of meals lifted a huge burden for the family at a time when they were stretched thin mentally, emotionally, and financially.
“Having that help meant we didn’t have to worry about what our daughter was going to eat. It allowed us to focus fully on Linus and his ongoing medical needs. We are so grateful for the support we received.”
Linus's Mom, Olivia
Today, Linus’s journey continues, and his family remains deeply appreciative of every hand that helped them through some of their hardest moments.
Because of donors like you, families like Olivia’s don’t have to face crisis alone.
Two Days of Compassion
Variety's annual Two Days of Compassion Radiothon presented by Hy-Vee raises funds each year to help Iowa's critically ill children experiencing a long hospital stay.
This year, on December 11 & 12 tune in on Newsradio 1040 WHO and 106.3 KXNO on the Iowa Sports Radio Network, along with KDAT in eastern Iowa to hear heartfelt stories of why the Compassion Fund is so important for Iowa's critically ill children.
