Olivia's Oasis

Some lives leave legacies long after they’re gone. Olivia Lior Wampler lived one of those lives.

Many in the massage community remember Olivia, the sweet, free-spirited child who would accompany her mother, Angie Patrick, to professional massage events where Angie worked as a brand ambassador. Olivia, who was born with a host of health challenges and endured brain tumors starting at age 4, was never undermined by those challenges. Instead, she was the light in the room, the giggle in the silence, the joy in the encounter. When Olivia’s short 17 years came to an end, her light did not fade. Instead, it gathered momentum, moving through the heart of her mother into the creation of a touchless spa for other parents of critically ill children who so desperately need the rest that never seems to come. Today, Olivia’s Oasis at Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida, is the legacy of love born from one child’s life journey that touched so many and continues to do so even today.

“My Light”

Olivia was born a miracle, weighing 1 pound, 11 ounces and measuring 121/2 inches long. At birth, both mom and baby had complications and were separated for five weeks. For the next seven months, Olivia remained at the NICU. When she finally came home with her father, Joe Wampler, and her mother, monitors, oxygen units, and a bundle of medicines came with her. For the next four years, there were countless doctor appointments with pediatricians and specialists for little Olivia. Then, doctors found two brain tumors—one the size of a golf ball; the other the size of a grape. After hours of surgery, both tumors were removed; one was benign, the other cancerous. Eventually, Olivia was cancer-free, living with as much hope and light as she possibly could. However, by age 17, Olivia was experiencing regular seizure episodes, and by December 2022, the seizures won. 

Angie, who has been a brand manager in the massage and bodywork space for over 20 years, says her child’s name was very intentional and reflects the life she lived. Olivia means “bringer of peace,” while Lior means “my light.” Ask Angie how she would describe Olivia and she’ll tell you, “She was a whirling dervish of love.” She describes her as a little soul swirling and communing with the Divine, with a hug and hello for everyone, no matter how much poking, prodding, or sticking with pain she endured. She had a lot of energy in a little body that wouldn’t allow her to fully express herself. She was a “cyclone of love.” And even in Olivia’s passing, Angie continues to learn from her child: “She makes me want to be a better person, every day.” 

Giving Kids the World

Olivia’s character and profound optimism were infectious, so much so that hospital staff recommended her to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. After applying and interviewing, 6-year-old Olivia was granted her wish and the family spent one magical week at Give Kids the World Village, which gives children permission to be children and gives parents experiences that teach them their fragile child is not as fragile as they might think. From riding a merry-go-round designed for children who use wheelchairs to swimming for the first time in a pool designed specifically for children with disabilities, the week was meaningful in so many ways for young Olivia and her family. 

Give Kids the World Village is an 89-acre nonprofit resort founded by the late Henri Landwirth, a childhood Holocaust survivor. After losing most of his family, Landwirth and his sister made their way to the US. Here, he learned the hospitality industry, eventually managing the Starlite Motel in Cocoa Beach, Florida, when space exploration was in its early days. It was during this time that a young girl with leukemia had a wish to visit the Florida theme parks. Landwirth was able to fulfill the hotel request for the young girl, but the rest of her travel plans never came to fruition before she passed away. This marked the beginning of Landwirth’s mission to ensure this didn’t happen again, and so he began Give Kids the World Village, which opened in 1989.  

“Trauma doesn't have to define you, but it can inform you of what legacy you want to leave behind." 

—Angie Patrick

Today, President and CEO Caroline Schumacher provides oversight at the resort, while Tami O’Brien shares her Southern charm and offers the warm welcomes that make every family feel at home. The resort has 168 villas, unique and playful attractions, and all kinds of engaging activities designed specifically for critically ill children and their families, with week-long “wish” vacations granted at no cost. Everything is supported by donations from corporations, individuals, and partnering wish-granting organizations like Make-A-Wish. Since its opening, the Village has welcomed more than 200,000 families from all 50 states and 78 countries. 

The moment children arrive at Give Kids the World Village, the world is their oyster. Do you want to dress up like a king for the week? Volunteers will dress you up and put on your makeup, and a staff member will bow to you as you parade your way to Disney World for the day. Do you want ice cream for breakfast? Stop by Henri’s Starlite Scoops Ice Cream & Shakes and help yourself. Every meal, every treat, every activity, and every stay is 100 percent paid for by donations and run by volunteers and staff.

Angie says there were so many tender and memorable moments when Olivia found joy during their magical week at the resort. And there was Olivia’s moment on stage, where her imagination took the spotlight, even though her small body was unable to perform. But maybe the most impactful spot, especially as Angie revisited Give Kids the World Village in the fall of 2025, is the Castle of Miracles. Inside is a secret room where each child is granted a star. They are given the opportunity to decorate their star before Stellar the Star Fairy showers her magic over the star to watch over them all. Each star is then purposefully placed on the ceiling—Olivia’s included. Collectively, there are more than 200,000 stars for every child that has ever visited Give Kids the World Village. Within this space, it’s easy for the impact to wash over you of what this resort has meant to so many families. 

Finding Community

As a parent, Angie reflects on what it meant to be at Give Kids the World Village in a community with other parents experiencing similar things. For any parent, your whole job is to protect your children and help shape them into the best human beings possible. A parent with a critically ill child has an even more heightened need to “keep death away from the door.” Angie says your default internal operating system becomes accustomed to always advocating, always responding to the next unexpected trauma, and never giving up. “It’s simply not an option,” Angie says. “You keep showing up. And every day is a gift.” During their week at the village, being among hundreds of other families facing the same challenges finally gave them a sense of belonging.  

Angie credits the massage profession for helping her raise Olivia. They stood beside her and supported her in ways other parents didn’t have access to. All too often, society and even people in your own sphere will discount the family of a child with disabilities. Some people are just afraid and don’t have the capacity or understand how to handle a situation that feels uncomfortable to them. For many parents of kids with disabilities, Angie included, there are no such things as babysitters. 

That’s why being surrounded by other parents of critically ill children that week in Kissimmee meant so much, and friendships were instantly made. In a place like Give Kids the World Village, where everything is designed specifically for children with various needs, it gives parents an opportunity to let their guard down and acknowledge their own needs, while the family is supported throughout their visit by friendly staff and helpful volunteers. And it was in this piece of the puzzle that Olivia’s light found yet another way to shine after she was gone.

An Everlasting Entry Point

Shortly after Olivia’s passing in 2022, Angie received a phone call from Shawn Haycock, co-founder and current executive director of Massage and Industry Relations at Massage Envy, letting her know the staff at Give Kids the World Village had an idea to remodel one of the buildings into a spa for parents. Knowing Angie’s mastery at connecting resources, Haycock reached out, not realizing Angie’s family’s connection to the resort. Angie eventually learned the staff already had a name picked for the spa: Olivia’s Oasis. 

However, there was a caveat: The spa needed to be touchless, not only because of liability and ease of acceptance but because touchless services were considered more appealing to parents who were already in very vulnerable positions. With their dedication to their children, most of these parents hardly have a moment to themselves, much less time to experience any kind of hands-on therapy or relaxation. For most parents visiting Give Kids the World Village, Olivia’s Oasis would be their entry point into the world of massage, so it needed to be simple, easy, and as stressless as possible. 

Working with massage table manufacturer Oakworks, Angie was inspired by the Experience Lounge at an International Spa Association event, where many brands offer relaxation through the latest technology and other innovative sensory experiences. To get Olivia’s Oasis off the ground, Angie sought to use that model and began calling her contacts to help bring the vision to light. 

As you enter the parent spa at Give Kids the World Village, you will find a little sanctuary cove with a beautiful wall fountain adorned with the name “Olivia’s Oasis.” The logo is rich in symbolism, featuring an infinity sign to signify that Olivia’s love and light live on. Delicate flowers and hearts—drawn by Olivia with her father’s encouragement—are woven throughout. An artist at Give Kids the World Village transformed these meaningful elements into a heartfelt portrait of Olivia.

Inside the spa are four separate touchless treatment rooms with Sola Jet EndoKinetic tables, which are dry hydrotherapy massage beds using heat and water jets to provide a deep-tissue-like massage. In a quiet commons area, you’ll find massage recliners, foot massagers, warm/cold packs, aromatherapy, eye packs, cozy blankets, salt lamps, and more. And in another room, the Oakworks Curva Lounger with vibroacoustic sound therapy and heat awaits guests. 

The sanctuary has been open since April 2023 and has already brought peace and tranquility to many parents who’ve come through the Village. During Angie’s visit to the resort last fall, one family showered her with gratitude when they learned she was the person behind the realization of Olivia’s Oasis. Angie was greeted with a huge embrace as parents shared the value of the spa experience. 

Through Angie, it’s easy to feel how much Olivia’s spirit is still alive in this place that holds sacred space for so many. 

A Legacy of Love

Olivia’s Oasis has become a vehicle to help Angie heal from the loss of her daughter. “Trauma doesn’t have to define you, but it can inform you of what legacy you want to leave behind,” Angie says. While it’s been a struggle to come out of the depths of grief and darkness after losing her child, Angie feels she is now emerging into a new way of being with new boundaries, new values, and a smarter philosophy about where she puts her energy to make an impact. 

Olivia’s Oasis has given her a spark of light and has helped reinspire a vision for something meaningful to give back to a place that meant so much to Olivia and her family. The one thing Angie hopes every parent will feel as they step inside Olivia’s Oasis is love. Love was the seed of Give Kids the World Village. Love is behind every staff member, volunteer, and donor. Love is what every parent there has for their child. 

Olivia loved fiercely during the 17 miraculous years she was here. And love is the legacy and ripple effect from one magical week for Angie and her family. 

A Deeper Dive—Donors Come Through

 The following donors contributed to the creation of Olivia’s Oasis.

• SolaJet, Todd Howe. Endokinetic tables and massage recliners.

• Oakworks, Jessica Wadley. Curva Lounger with vibroacoustic sound and heat therapy.

• Hand & Stone. The stone wall fountain with the logo for Olivia’s Oasis.

• Core Products, Doug and Phil Mattison. Jeannie Rubs foot massagers.

• Harmony Salt, Laurie Messina. Salt lamps and salt warmers. 

• Scrip Companies. Cold packs, aromatherapy, eye packs, and blankets.

• Benefect, Monica Pasinato-Forchielli. Natural cleaners.