On Christmas day, 2014, at age 10, I was in a terrible skiing accident. I broke many bones including all three bones in my right leg and spent over 8 weeks in the hospital. I had eight surgeries in that year and a lot of physical therapy learning to walk again. What kept me going was just thinking happy thoughts of the things I wanted to do when I got better. The things I missed most while I was in the hospital were my cat  Angelo and my friends at school. I kept myself busy doing physical therapy, occupational therapy, art therapy, and playing games with a recreational therapist. I told my mom from the beginning I was going to be the same person I was before. I had just made my first club volleyball team when my accident happened, so I made a goal to try to make the team again in November the next year. Over that next year I worked with my physical therapist learning to walk, walking up stairs, doing squats, riding the exercise bike, and tossing a beach ball to improve my balance.  I kept up with my homework by having my teacher send all my classwork and homework to me in the hospital. I met with a hospital teacher to help me measure my progress and keep up in school. When I finally got home, I had a big party at my house and invited all my friends over. We had pizza and cake and did art and games in the backyard. It was so much fun to be with my friends again. My cat Angelo was so happy to see me and it was great to be home.  In November, I tried out for club volleyball and made the team I was hoping for. What got me though this hard time in my life was thinking happy thoughts and planning what I was going to do when I was better. My advice to anyone facing a terrible illness or accident is never give up hope and keep thinking positive thoughts.   ~Olivia  age 11