In 2024, 18-year-old Olivia Allen lost her battle with leukemia, leaving behind a heartbroken family, friends, and a community forever changed. Nearly a year later, her mother, Mellissa, her sister, Sophia, and her best friend, Aubrey, sit down with Heather to share what life has been like without her.
They open up about the reality of grieving a young life lost too soon, the unexpected ways grief has shown up, and how they continue to honor Olivia’s memory. This raw and deeply personal conversation sheds light on the lasting impact of teenage cancer loss—and the love that never fades.
Live Like Liv Foundation: https://livelikelivfoundation.org
Find Heather and Jake’s Help from Heaven:
❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/
❤️ Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven: https://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio
FIND HEATHER & JAKE’S HELP FROM HEAVEN ⬇️
❤️ Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven: https://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
Connect with us on social media:
• Heather’s Instagram
• Jake’s Help from Heaven
• Jake’s Help from Heaven IG
• Facebook
• Our YouTube Channel
Keep scrolling for the episode transcript.
Checkout our other episodes
My Son Outlived His Life Expectancy: Microlissencephaly & Our Fear of Losing Miles
What happens when a 2-5-year life expectancy stretches into a decade of miracles, fear, and unconditional love? In this profoundly emotional episode of A Place of Yes, Heather talks with David Robinson, father to 10-year-old Miles, who has Microlissencephaly. Against all odds, Miles continues to rewrite the narrative of his condition, bringing joy and gratitude to his family while challenging them to face the ever-present grief and fear of the unknown.
David opens up about what it means to live in the tension of hope and heartbreak, sharing powerful lessons on resilience, love, and celebrating every moment. This is a story you won’t forget.
Glioblastoma: Losing a Parent to One of the Deadliest Cancers
Kate Snedeker was still in college when she faced the unimaginable: losing her father to glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers.
In this episode, she opens up about navigating profound grief, the life-changing moments that shaped her, and how she turned her pain into purpose by founding Gray for Glioblastoma. This isn’t just a story of loss—it’s a story of finding hope, even in the darkest times.
Her Mother’s Death Was a Family Secret — Until She Broke the Silence
Susan Lieu’s story is anything but ordinary. She’s the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, a truth-seeker, and the author of The Manicurist’s Daughter, a memoir about family, loss, and the impossible beauty standards.
In this episode, Susan opens up about losing her mother to a botched surgery at age 11, uncovering the secrets no one wanted to talk about, and how she found strength in the messiness of grief and resilience. It’s raw, authentic, and a conversation you don’t want to miss.