Hailey and Olivia Scheinman of Clearwater, Florida, have always shared a special bond as twins. But their lives, from their very first breaths when they were born 10 years ago, could not be more different.

Hailey, a bright, well-spoken child with golden hair to match her sunny demeanor, is healthy, active, curious and artistic.

Dark-haired Olivia, known by friends and family as Livy, doesnt speak and cannot feed herself or walk. Her milestones are measured in small increments: the ability to hold her head up for a few extra minutes, or sleeping for a long stretch at night without a seizure.

Born with severe epilepsy and cerebral palsy, Livys pain is masked by a smile that touches everyone who meets her, says Hailey, the older twin by 70 minutes.

Shes My Best Friend
Her smile is so pure and shes always happy, Hailey says. Livy is my best friend in the whole world. Whenever Im sad about something, I just go find Livy and give her a hug and she makes me feel better. More than anything, Livy gives people hope.

Its appropriate, then, that Hope is Livys middle name - and the inspiration for a charity started in 2013 by the Scheinmans. Motivated by their daughters unique bond and Haileys desire to do something to help her sister, Jon and Allison Scheinman started Livys Hope with the goal of raising $1 million for epilepsy research.

Thus far, the familys various causes - paintings and bracelets made by Hailey, a Livys Kids Crew that does projects for people in need and Lemonade for Livy fundraisers - have brought in more than $32,000.
Haileys example of compassion and love and Livys example of courage and grace are truly inspirational, says Phil Gattone, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation.

Hope is a powerful thing when you are trying to change the world. The Scheinman family is changing fear and isolation into hope and inspiration for a community in need.

Joy and Heartbreak
On the day their twins were born, Jon and Allison were heartbroken and felt lost after watching Livys tiny body convulse in seizure after seizure. Hospitalized for nine months, Livy eventually went home with a devastating diagnosis: epilepsy and cerebral palsy caused by a brain malformation.
It was excruciating to see Hailey so full of joy and thriving and Olivia lying there in pain with so many problems and the reality that she might not make it, says Allison, 40.

It was like night and day, like living two lives. Each of Haileys milestones - her first steps, her first words - just brought it all home. We cried and cried. It was a tough place to be in, and it was also very hard on our marriage.