Cass (CJ) Nims Aplastic Anemia Recovery

Who is Cass (CJ) Nims?? Cass Nims is 22 years old and his story right now is about aplastic anemia and a diagnosis that rocked his world. A world that no 22 year old thinks will be rocked with a diagnosis that has a potential cure but the process of getting life saving measures is slowed down with our healthcare system costs. But let me tell you who CJ is to our family-our community. I met CJ when he was a sophomore in high school at Crystal Lake South. He was friends with my youngest son, Rob. As a junior in high school, CJ joined my family of 3 boys and lived with us through high school and his first two years into college. When my youngest son and his group decided to build a teen center in Crystal Lake to give kids an a safe place  to hang out and be a teenager in this town-CJ was right there helping everywhere he could. He was the first "Brick Donor" and as a junior in high school donated $100 from his summer landscaping job to our mission. CJ is called "Dad" by his friends and it is a title worthy of someone who is always there trying to take care of and protect people he loves-and even people he doesn't know and understand. He is another brother to my 3 boys- fighting over whatever food is in the fridge, giving Tom a hard time, enamored with our grand daughters, getting the "business" from me because that's what I do with my boys.  When CJ was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, he was working at Chase Bank-on the road to a more secure financial base and benefits. His diagnosis came just short of his 90 days there and while they have been great in the aspect of getting him on short term disability (he still has the job), he is not eligible for healthcare or any compensation. His diagnosis came while he was uninsured. Because of his pay stubs for less than 3 months at Chase, Northwestern Hospital in Huntley charged him at a reduced rate but he still has a bill that = over $12,000. CJ walked into every doctors and hospital appointment and paid them $100 out of his savings because he knows and values that his care costs money. However, his savings of $1,000 has dwindled and he continues to go into debt trying to pay his bills (car insurance, phone, food, etc.).  He can not get disability until he gets the life saving bone marrow transplant-that can't happen until medicaid approves his application. He is in the hospital right now, December 12, 2019 with a fever of 102, white blood cell count at 1.1, hemoglobin at 6 and his platelets so low he is not clotting blood. I'm sorry. This breaks my heart. It's one thing to deal with the emotional and physical pain inflicted but the financial burden on top of this is just too much. I hope our community can help him out wherever they can-a financial donation to the GoFundMe, gift cards to grocery stores or eating establishments, a card for support, a life line that this community cares as much about him as he has shown in his 22 years. In addition, we are holding an "In Honor Of Cass Nims" blood drive at the BREAK Teen Center at 6292 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake on December 21 from 8-1.  Any gift cards or letters can also be dropped off or mailed to that location.  If you need any more information, please leave a note here. Thank you in advance for any help you can give to CJ, someone I'm proud to call one of my sons.