ASHTABULA, Ohio — Ashtabula Police and Fire unions are offering a $300 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) who broke into a car on W. 53rd Street and stole gifts meant for Oliviah Hall, a ten-year-old girl battling terminal brain cancer.
For the last month, every day has been Christmas at Oliviah’s house because every moment is gifted precious time.
“When we got on hospice they said there's a three percent chance she'll make it to Christmas,” said Bryan Brown, Olivia’s dad.
The community has rallied around Oliviah for months and every day she receives dozens of cards and packages, mostly from strangers.
“Oliviah's motto was there are no strangers just friends you haven't met yet and she truly lived by that because she made sure that she put a smile on someone else's face,” Brown said.
But over the weekend, someone stole several boxes from her Dad’s car.
“Whoever stole the Oliviah's presents out of my car has some bad karma coming their way and that was pretty much me wiping my hands of it,” Brown said.
He isn’t mad, he’s more sad.
“Oliviah with her spirit taught me there's things in life that matter more than others,” Brown said.
He’s upset that he doesn’t know what was in the packages or who sent them so he could send a proper thank you. When the news of the break in broke, the community rallied again, many wanted to buy Oliviah more presents, but Brown says that’s not what his daughter wants. She wants to help other kids have their wishes come true.
A Special Wish Foundation made many of Oliviah’s dreams come true. They sent her to Disney and even helped her become an FBI Agent for a day that included a trip to Quantico and a meeting with FBI Director Christopher Wray. So Brown hopes people help his daughter by making this wish come true.
“If you want to do something and it's gonna make a big difference donate to A Special Wish, let's send these kids on these kids on their wishes,” Brown said.
He’d also like to see more donations go to Pediatric Brain Cancer Research.
“Children are losing their lives to a disease we don't know a lot about,” Brown said.
Olivia is receiving Hospice care at home and still teaching us to live life for others.
“Not one time has she cried and been like why is this happening to me she's a ten-year-old girl, she's had her scared moments, but she's never been afraid,” Brown said.
Another way you can help is to participate in Oliviah’s Blood Drive on January 11th.
Here’s a link to her Facebook Page and her website
Links for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research: