September 27, 2023

First the good news post-surgery: I do not have cancer again!

I’ve been recovering from surgery, which has taken longer than anticipated due to my health. But I am thankful to report I will not need further surgery. Thank you for all the prayers!

I’ve been grateful to enjoy some brief time sitting and walking outside in late August and September, and even got to see a few friends in person.

As far as fundraising goes:

-I’m hoping to raise enough to pay for my surgery this summer.

I am also hoping to raise enough to pay for:

-Multiple appointments with the four new specialists I’ve added to my team this year.

-The labwork and diagnostic tests I had done related to surgery.

My stretch goal is to help pay for other ongoing expenses. These expenses include:

-Medication (two of which my insurance does not cover at all.)

-Ongoing treatment like chiropractic care.

-Copays for my PCP and specialists.

-Vitamins and supplements that treat my conditions and help with the my difficulty absorbing nutrients.

-I also just got more labwork done, and some of it is not normal. So I have at least one more unplanned doctor appointment and round of bloodwork coming up.

Thank you so much to you all of you following along and supporting me through all the ups and downs of this journey. I’m so grateful for all the love and prayers. If you’re also able to donate, I appreciate that so much.

Update you soon!

Cassie

July 12, 2023

Hi friends, I wanted to share a health update: I am preparing for surgery a little later this month to find out if I have cancer again.

While going through testing the last couple months (and getting diagnosed with another chronic illness) a mass was found that needs to be removed and tested.

I found out that the chance of secondary cancers due to my past radiation during thyroid cancer is much higher than studies showed seven years ago.

If the tests after surgery show cancer, I will need additional surgery and radiation.

I wanted to update this fundraiser to help with costs of the four new specialists I’ve added to my team in the last two months. I’ve had additional tests and bloodwork, and the upcoming cost of surgery. Anything raised over the cost of these expenses would go towards my ongoing expenses for chronic illness: doctor appointments, medication, treatments, etc.

I am so grateful for the $3000 you all donated last year. I was able to pay for my IV treatments in 2022 and put the rest earned towards some my medical expenses earlier this year. I’m raising my goal to $7000 for my upcoming expenses.

November 30, 2022

Just saw this and wanted to share the opportunity to make your donation go further: Help Hope Live is waving the credit card fee on donations Giving Tuesday (today):

“Between midnight on Tuesday, Nov 29, and 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov 30, we will cover the credit card fee for all donations made in honor of any Help Hope Live client.”

As for an update, we’re kind of in a holding pattern right now. My infusion I had once at the beginning of November was stopped because of how much I reacted. I had two doctor appointments, including one about restarting that infusion at a lower dose. So now that’s squared away, I’m waiting to hear back from the infusion center to see when I can get scheduled for that infusion, and a second one. Hopefully these two different infusions will help with symptoms like fatigue and all the symptoms of POTS (a form of Dysautonomia).

I would greatly appreciate prayer that these infusions help me start having improved function!

Thanks friends, I’ll update sometime after we’ve given these infusions a try. I hope you have a blessed Christmas season.

September 23, 2022

Hi friends, I wanted to share a little update.

I tried the IVIG infusion, and due to the reactions I experienced, we’ve paused that treatment for now. This is pretty typical, for me personally and for any patient with complex medical issues, sensitivities, and allergies.

I’m currently working with my doctors to pursue two different kinds of infusions. Prayers appreciated that they get approved and scheduled in the near future! They sound very promising for helping me start to see improvement.

I am so grateful to everyone who has donated. So far I’ve been able to pay for the IVIG infusion, a doctor copay, and chiropractic treatments. This is huge, and having these expenses covered has taken such a weight off my mind. Chronic illness can feel like a very lonely journey with no end in sight, and I so appreciate everyone who has helped me feel so supported.

I’m also working with my doctor to see if he can write up notes showing medical necessity to replace some things in our home so they are more allergy-friendly to help my asthma. I’m going to bump up our goal to $3000 see if we can cover some of those expenses through this fundraiser.

I truly appreciate you! God bless,

Cassie

July 9, 2022

Oh my goodness, we met my first goal in just a little over 24 hours! I’m beyond blessed by everyone’s generosity!

I’m expecting my bill from my June infusion any day now, so I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to pay it right away.

I’m going to set our next goal for $2,000!