Olivia ‘Livy’ Rubeck will celebrate her golden birthday on Nov. 11, just over a year after being diagnosed with leukemia and suffering a traumatic brain injury. That same day, LFHS will support the fifth grader as she bravely battles the changes to her life.

A little over a month after she was diagnosed last year, while in the hospital recovering from chemotherapy treatments, Olivia suffered two cardiac arrests due to complications from the  treatments. The next week was spent on the ventilator in the ICU as the cardiac arrests resulted in heartbreaking brain injury.

In an attempt to focus on Olivia’s unexpected fight against her brain injury, chemotherapy treatment was paused. Unfortunately, her cancer returned later that school year in March of 2024 and Olivia’s journey of chemotherapy treatments resumed. The fifth grader is now entering her final phase of treatment, a less intense process than those she has courageously undergone in the past. 

The focus of Olivia and her family now is beating leukemia and recovering from her brain injury. Her schedule has been altered drastically due to her chemotherapy schedule and now holds therapy appointments and hospital treatments as she continues her fight. 

Olivia is beginning a long road of healing, which includes the rehabilitation of her movement and communication. She is undergoing a variety of therapies that include hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments, IV treatments, exosomes, red light, and physical rehabilitation treatments.

Though her brain injury prevents her from attending school daily, Olivia is determined to return to her favorite activities in the future. Spending time with family and friends, school, and sports are all important parts of Olivia’s life that are ready to have her back if she becomes ready.

‘Love 4 Livy’ began in December of 2023 and has continued to grow as a support system for the Rubeck family. It originally started as four moms who were hoping to provide help for Olivia and her family during her fight, but it expanded as they worked to gain support from the entire Lake Forest community in an effort to show that the community was standing behind Olivia in her hard-fought journey.

Boo Grams, delivered to classes Thursday, raised money for Rubeck’s long journey to recovery. Students had the opportunity to buy a ‘Boo Gram’ for $5 to send to a friend, classmate, teacher, coach, or another fellow LFHS member. 

“Boo Grams are such a special way to honor and give back to a special member of our community along with now having ‘Love 4 Livy Day’. As a high school we are coming together as one to support Olivia and her family as she continues to fight,” Student Body President Kat Yakes said.

The very first event put on by ‘Love 4 Livy’ was ‘Carols and Cocoa’ on Dec. 21, 2023. ‘Carols and Cocoa’ provided an opportunity for parents to support the Rubecks in various ways while Olivia’s classmates performed Christmas carols in Market Square. Lake Forest’s Duffers also showed their support as they donated a portion of their dinner sales from that night to the Rubeck family.

Since then, ‘Love 4 Livy’ has continued to create events and opportunities for the community to demonstrate their love and encouragement for Olivia. The events range from Trivia and Silent Auction Night to Kiddles Sports 3 apparel orders where proceeds were donated directly to the Rubecks. 

‘Love 4 Livy’ gold awareness bracelets are continuously donated by a local family with the profit going to Olivia’s recovery. The bracelets are sold at booths, fundraisers, and Ahn Orthodontics, a local business who discounts their services for anyone purchasing a bracelet set.

Many Lake Forest community members use social media to find opportunities to support Olivia and her family.‘Love 4 Livy’ can be followed on both Facebook @love.for.livy and Instagram @loveforlivy to stay updated on future events and ways to show love for the Rubecks.

Everett Elementary School was the first to experience ‘Love 4 Livy Day’ on Jan. 19. As a show of support from the school that both Olivia and her two younger siblings were attending, students and teachers chose to wear either Olivia’s favorite colors (light blue and purple), her favorite animal (pandas) or Love 4 Livy t-shirts. The elementary school again came together for Olivia in April and May before Olivia moved on to DPM as a new fifth grader this year.

In hopes to make Nov. 11 a community wide ‘Love 4 Livy Day’ this year, both DPM and LFHS will join Everett in celebration of Olivia’s eleventh birthday.

“I am honored to support the Love 4 Livy cause at Everett this year, especially after learning about Livy’s heroic battle as the DPME Principal,” Everett Elementary’s Principal Dr. Eigenrauch said. “I’m looking forward to celebrating Livy’s birthday on the 11th and showering her with love from the Everett school community. While I don’t know Livy personally, I do know her siblings, and they are fantastic individuals, so I can only imagine how special Livy is.”

LFHS’ ‘Love 4 Livy Day’ will bring together the student body to bring love and awareness to Olivia in celebration of her birthday and as her hard fought journey continues. LFHS students are encouraged to wear Olivia’s favorite colors on the 11th or help by purchasing merchandise to wear.

“This year we are hoping to make 11/11 a community wide ‘Love 4 Livy Day’ as it’s her golden birthday,” Kristen Adamo, one of the ‘Love 4 Livy’ leaders, said. “The hope is to have everyone help celebrate her birthday by showing we care and surrounding her and her family with love and support.”