Meet Olivea Hannah: Dell Children’s Art of Giving, Miracle Network Champion and Queen of Our Hearts

Olivea Hannah carries a small plush pink octopus down a hall at Dell Children’s Medical Center. She pops an entire Oreo cookie into her mouth and gleefully munches on it, waiting for people she knows to walk by. It doesn’t take long. A nurse from the Cardiac Unit pauses in a doorway. Olivea jumps toward her with open arms. The two hug, rocking back and forth. They keep their faces close to each other and laugh sharing how each other has been since they last met. 

This happens a lot with Olivea. With her dark brown hair in pom poms on either side, her head’s on a swivel—first greeting old friends, then meeting new ones, and finally, reminding her dad— Gregg Hannah—that he needs to go out to the car and grab her bracelets, which he happily obliges.

To look at her, there is almost no way one can tell that nearly six months ago, this bouncing and gleeful preteen was admitted to Dell Children’s Medical Center in dire need of a new heart. You definitely wouldn’t guess that at this meeting, she’s had her new heart for less than two months. 

A Devastating Diagnosis

For a healthy 10-year-old girl full of energy and curiosity, nothing about Olivea seemed out of the ordinary. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she began experiencing symptoms that puzzled her family and doctors alike.

One symptom—a persistent swollen belly—turned out to be the first sign of real trouble, prompting Gregg to search for answers by reaching out to multiple specialists. Despite his efforts and numerous consultations, the cause remained elusive until they were referred to Dell Children’s Medical Center after testing returned showing traces of blood in Olivea’s urine. 

At Dell Children’s, the cardiologists at the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease delivered a shocking diagnosis—Olivea was in heart failure.

“I was completely devastated. We lost a child in 2008. Olivea had just lost her mom a couple of years ago. We’d already been through a lot and I just thought “Alright God, we’re gonna do everything we need to do. Just make sure my daughter is okay,” says Gregg. 

For the Hannah family, this news marked the beginning of a challenging journey, one that would test their strength and resilience and forever change them.

Olivea’s Battle Begins

While most children her age are looking forward to Spring Break, Olivea was looking at a hospital stay that would take her right into summer. On March 1st, 2024, Olivea was admitted to Dell Children’s Cardiac Care Unit, where she began a 95-day inpatient stay.

Despite the gravity of her condition, Olivea’s spirit remained unbroken. Known for her infectious positivity and compassion, she quickly became a beacon of light within the Cardiac Care Unit. Olivea’s days were filled with activities that brought joy to herself and others, like making bracelets, which she had begun before her stay at Dell Children’s. “When she got admitted here, we brought the beads. One of the nurses saw them and said, ‘These are so nice.’ She took Olivea around the unit with her box of bracelets. She kept herself busy and did really well. It was a good learning experience for her,” says Gregg. 

A New Life in the Cardiac Care Unit

Throughout her stay, Olivea thrived receiving exceptional care in the supportive environment provided by Dell Children’s. Art and music therapy played a significant role in maintaining her positive outlook.

These activities not only offered Olivea creative outlets but also fostered a sense of community and camaraderie among patients. “At first, the stay felt long, but then once I started meeting new friends and having fun. We’d play board games, watch movies together—basic friend stuff.” 

Reflecting on her time in the hospital, Olivea continues, “This community helped me be less shy. Before, I was more like a shy butterfly, but now I’m a queen.”

Gregg adds, “It was definitely a new experience. Before this, I had maybe spent ten hours altogether in a hospital and then, I’m in here twenty-four hours a day. It was quite an adjustment. But the staff here and the way things are done in this hospital was incredible.”

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

The waiting period for a heart transplant is always filled with uncertainty, but Olivea faced each day with unwavering grace. On May 23rd, the long-awaited call came: a suitable donor heart had been found. The news brought immense relief and hope to the Hannah family. The transplant procedure performed by Dr. Carlos Mery and Dr. Chesney Castlberry went smoothly, and Olivea’s recovery was remarkably swift. By June 6th, she was back home, ready to embrace life as a normal 10-year-old girl.

A Christening Unlike Any Other

Gregg and Olivea had decided that they would get baptized in 2024. What neither expected is that they would get baptized in the rehab pool at Dell Children’s.

“We had decided to get baptized this year. It was supposed to happen the week after we got admitted. The chaplain came in and said we could do it here, so we did in the rehab pool. We got baptized exactly a month before her surgery. It was really special,” remembers Gregg. 

New Heart, Same Queen 

As Olivea approaches her 11th birthday in November, her story continues to inspire everyone who meets her. Her resilience, courage, and commitment to spreading positivity have left a lasting impact on all who have witnessed her journey. 

Gregg reflects on their stay at Dell Children’s saying, “It was really devastating at first, but you have to just keep on pushing. It actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She’s gotten so much love, attention, and a new perspective on life. It’s like divine intervention. She found a purpose for herself, something she wants to do in the future, something she can invest herself in.”

Since leaving Dell Children’s, Olivea has continued to make and sell bracelets and hopes to become an entrepreneur although, for now, she’s also looking forward to getting back to school and being a kid. 

When asked what she would tell someone else facing a similar diagnosis, Olivea has words of hope and encouragement beyond her almost 11 years. “What I would say to someone who just found out they need a new heart is don’t worry. Everything’s gonna be okay. God has plans for you, and He’s watching out for you,” she says. 

“Sometimes, I miss living in the hospital and being with my friends every day. Another friend is still waiting for her heart, so I visit and encourage her that she will get hers soon. She’s gone through a lot, but she’s perfect. She’s a perfect friend,” says Olivea. 

Olivea Hannah’s journey is a testament to the power of courage and positivity. Her story demonstrates that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can and will triumph—she is the queen of our hearts and we couldn’t be more proud to announce that she will be representing Dell Children’s Medical Center as both our Art of Giving Ambassador and Our Children’s Miracle Network Champion in 2025.