At 23 years old, Olivia Snyder has already lived a story filled with courage, change, and a deep desire to help others feel understood.
Olivia lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, and describes herself as someone who has always loved being active, creative, and involved in her community. Before her health declined, she spent much of her time outdoors and on the move – playing soccer, tennis, basketball, running track, doing gymnastics, horse vaulting, camping, backpacking, and even whitewater rafting. She also loved animals and participated in 4-H, where she showed rabbits and served as a club officer.
Helping others has always been part of who Olivia is. One of her favorite volunteer experiences was spending time with residents at Bradford Village Nursing Home, where she played bingo, made crafts, and built meaningful friendships with many of the residents.
But as Olivia’s medical journey became more complex, life began to look very different.
Olivia lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, also known as EDS, a condition that affects connective tissue and can impact many different systems in the body. For Olivia, the experience has included complications that are not always visible to others.
That is one of the reasons she is so passionate about raising awareness.
“You don’t have to look sick to be sick,” Olivia shared.
For Olivia, those words matter. She knows what it feels like to have people misunderstand illness because they cannot see it. She also knows how much awareness, education, and compassion can change the way people respond.
Rather than turning away from questions, Olivia welcomes them.
Her heart for advocacy is clear. She wants people to understand EDS, invisible illnesses, and the importance of listening to patients when they speak about their own bodies and experiences.
One of the things Olivia is most proud of is learning to advocate for herself. After many procedures, medications, and treatments that were no longer improving her quality of life, she reached a point where she felt empowered to say, “This isn’t working anymore.”
That decision was not about giving up. It was about choosing comfort, peace, and quality of life.
It was about being heard.
For Olivia, hospice has helped provide that kind of support.
When asked what Heart to Heart Hospice has meant to her, one quote stood out most:
“This is the first time I feel like I’ve truly felt like a person and not just a patient.”
That statement reflects the kind of care Olivia has experienced – care that sees her whole story, not just her diagnosis.
Olivia specifically shared gratitude for Anndrea, her social worker, who showed up for her in a meaningful way during a special moment. When Olivia learned that News 9 wanted to interview her, she called Anndrea, and within minutes, Anndrea arrived at her home to help.
She helped Olivia get ready, brought Heart to Heart Hospice shirts, offered emotional support, and made the experience feel less overwhelming.
To Olivia, that kind of support mattered. It was personal, it was present, it was…. human.
Another meaningful part of Olivia’s story is her long-standing interest in law enforcement. Since she was young, Olivia has been drawn to investigative work and police service. She had previously completed portions of the Edmond Citizens Police Academy, but unfortunately was not able to participate in the ride-along portion of the program.
When Heart to Heart Hospice asked Olivia what experience she wanted most, she shared that story.
The next day, she learned that the ride-along had been arranged.
“I couldn’t even contain my excitement,” she said.
The experience itself was special, but what stood out most to Olivia was the kindness shown by Officer Randy Payne. Throughout the ride-along, he checked on her often, making sure she had water, rest, bathroom breaks, and any accommodations she needed.
To Olivia, that care and consideration left a lasting impression.
She described the Edmond Police Department as having heart and said they “treat people like people.”
That phrase captures so much of her story.
At the center of it all is a young woman who wants to be seen, heard, and understood – not only as someone living with illness, but as someone who is faithful, hopeful, compassionate, and resilient.
Olivia has walked through difficult days, but she continues to use her voice to educate others. She wants people to understand invisible illness, and for patients to know they can advocate for themselves. She wants families to know that hospice is not simply about the end of life – but about the quality of it.
As Olivia beautifully described it, hospice is “an extended care that’s focused on compassion, care, and comfort.”
Her story is a reminder that compassion can be found in the details: a social worker showing up within minutes, an officer willing to facilitate that ride along – while still checking for comfort. In a care team listening closely, and a patient being treated as a whole person.
Olivia shared one quote that she hopes others will carry with them:
“While we are trying to make sense of things, may we learn to make peace with things.”
For Olivia, peace does not mean the journey has been easy. It means finding comfort, meaning, and connection along the way. And through her courage, her honesty, and her willingness to share, Olivia is helping others feel a little less alone.
