A generous donation from a local teen author speaks volumes about her motivation to give back.
Olivia Hahn’s book, Healing Our Wounded Hearts: A real life story about loss in the voice of a teenager, not only supports teens who are dealing with grief, it raised $400 for Victoria Hospice.
Olivia started writing as a way to express the grief she felt when her mother died of cancer in 2022. Recognizing differences in the way adults and children grieve, she developed the book to support other youth in bereavement.
Here is an excerpt from the book:
“Learning to express my feelings through dance, poetry and writing gives me space for my grief. I am now allowing myself to feel it because I will no longer put it away because grief doesn’t belong pent up in a cage.
Take it out when you are ready because it’s always going to be the crack in the floor that you can never fix, instead get some glue and support it rather than letting it get bigger and bigger where it can no longer hold your weight.
I hope that in reading my story you can feel less alone and help with your journey through mourning.”
Olivia became a spokesperson to help destigmatize grief and loss and her story has been featured in several news articles, from CBC to Victoria Buzz. Olivia received the Saanich 2022 Arts, Culture and Heritage Award in the Youth (individual) category.
“We’re so inspired to see the way Olivia channeled her creativity to help children and youth through their experience of bereavement,” Director of Development Wendy Innes says. “And to have also created such a successful fundraiser for Victoria Hospice through her book is impressive! We’re very grateful to Olivia.”