THE hope squad

We've teamed up with good-news hub Hope Rises to share its most moving and inspiring stories.

- Sara Gaynes Levy

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To meet even more amazing humans, follow Hope Rises on Instagram @hope risesnetwork.

Olivia's hair before her transplant

She created her own rainbow.

Olivia Sexton RIDGEFIELD, WA

When Olivia, now 5, was just 21 months old, she was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a rare form of bone marrow failure. By age 3, she needed a bone marrow transplant, which meant she would lose her hair. Her mother, Lori, offered to dye her hair a fun color as a way to say goodbye. "But every color I suggested, she said no," Lori says. "So finally I said, 'Well, what color do you want?'" Olivia confidently replied, "Rainbow!" "I should have known," says Lori. "Whenever you ask her her favorite color, she always says 'Rainbow.'" Olivia loved the sadly short-lived look, so early last year, as her hair began to grow back, she asked if she could do it again. "It was meant to be only a one-off thing," says Lori. "But seeing how much she loved it-and how truly happy and empowered it made her feel I couldn't say no. She's already lost so much. I could never take this away from her." Olivia's hair has become a symbol of strength, hope, and resilience. "It's part of her identity now," says Lori.

Kaylin with her twin sister, Kristen

She walked down the aisle!

Kaylin Devealt BUFFALO

The happy couple