Meet Little Oak
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Becca Kalivas, MS, RN
FOUNDER/CEO
Through experience, both lived and learned, Little Oak is dedicated to supporting, nurturing, and equipping children and their families with the tools they need to navigate life with routine medical care, illnesses, or medical conditions.
About Our Founder/CEO
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Becca Kalivas, MS, RN, is a Registered Nurse, with a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership, and a certificate in Adult Education, residing in Colorado. She has spent fifteen years caring for children with critical illnesses, injuries, and complex medical conditions; as well as providing much-needed education and support to patients, families, and nursing staff. Becca has a natural talent and lifelong passion for educating people and helping them understand their healthcare in the way that best suits them. Becca has always seen unmet needs and used her skills to create tools where there are none – both in her professional and personal lives. Now as a mom to a child with a severe congenital heart defect, she's experienced the world of pediatric healthcare from both sides, which gives her a unique perspective, diverse expertise, and skills especially suited to help those who are traveling a similar path. She doesn't have to guess at what children with extensive medical histories and their families need, because she's lived it all. Becca has a firm belief in the power of knowledge and believes first and foremost, that everyone, regardless of age, should have the tools they need to navigate life with routine or unexpected medical care, illnesses, or medical conditions. She hopes to bring a sense of comfort and "I've got you covered" to her clients and their families, because she's been there and knows how difficult and isolating it can be.
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Becca Kalivas maintains current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Colorado.
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Becca Kalivas, MS, RN, is a Registered Nurse, with a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership, and a certificate in Adult Education, residing in Colorado. She has spent fifteen years caring for children with critical illnesses, injuries, and complex medical conditions; as well as providing much-needed education and support to patients, families, and nursing staff. She has held a variety of bedside nursing and nursing leadership roles, which has given her a unique set of skills to provide comfort, knowledge, and support.
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In early 2017, the realities of complex medical conditions hit a lot closer to home for Becca. She and her husband were thrilled to learn they were expecting their first child, a baby boy named Oliver. Everything changed at their 20-week ultrasound when they were confronted with the news that there was something wrong with the baby’s heart. Oliver had a severe heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome – a condition in which Oliver only has half a functioning heart. Oliver was born in July 2017 and underwent his first open-heart surgery at just two days old. Unfortunately, Oliver spent the next several months in and out of the hospital struggling through multiple complications and infections. Oliver underwent his second open-heart surgery just before he turned 4 months old. In July 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, Ollie underwent his final palliative heart surgery at the age of three. Oliver, known affectionately as Ollie Tamale, is now a thriving, high-energy, inquisitive little boy – though he still requires regular medical follow-ups for his heart condition. Becca and her family have experienced immense medical trauma, and the resulting anxiety and fear, and they know firsthand how even routine medical appointments can be stressful and traumatic. Becca is determined to make navigating the medical world easier for Ollie, and for the millions of children like him, and make required medical care a more positive experience for everyone involved.
