3rd Times a Charm - Help Cassie Breathe
Donation protected
Help Cassie in her Fight for Life
Cassie , age 34, a lifelong sufferer of Cystic Fibrosis, requires a rare and difficult 3rd lung transplant in order to save her life. In order to be approved for the transplant, the hospitals that perform it will require evidence that she has the funds needed for relocation, medical bills and recovery expenses. We are turning to you to help Cassie in this fight for her life and to raise the approximately $25,000 that she will need to go forward. We are grateful for any and all support that you can give.

Cassie
As everyone who knows her can attest, Cassie is a bright and wonderful woman, adored by her friends and family, and admired by all for her zest for life.
Cassie was diagnosed as an infant with Cystic Fibrosis, a progressive , genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. Cassie has made the most of every opportunity, refusing to let the CF stop her from living her life. .
Cassie managed to maintain her active lifestyle – She was on the Bartlett HS Dance team, graduated from Aurora University with a degree in English – until 2003, when her breathing became increasingly problematic. Since then, she has had to undergo two bi-lateral lung transplants, as well as continued testing, medications, and rehabilitation to prevent her body from rejecting the lungs. Each day, regardless of the difficulty, Cassie has faced the challenge with heart and optimism, and managed to prevail.

Current Situation
Until just recently, Cassie had been making the most of her life, even dedicating much of her time to serving and helping others. She was a paraprofessional for John Shield’s Elementary School in Sugar Grove, IL, where she worked with children who have special needs. She has also for the past several years worked as nanny for three children, caring for them daily after her regular job. In addition to all of this, Cassie met and began a relationship with Josh Miller, her loving boyfriend, and the two were trying to start their own life together. Their hopes are to eventually marry and have their own family.
But in late-May 2018, Cassie started experiencing breathing difficulties again. After testing, it was discovered that her lung function had deteriorated to 30% and officially diagnosed with Chronic rejection. Cassie kept working both of her jobs as long as possible and remained upbeat and hopeful about everything, but she has now had to stop working and will have to move back to her parents’ home for further help. Cassie is, growing extremely fatigued, weak, and lost her appetite and no longer has the energy to work, meet with friends, all the things she truly loves doing. She is undergoing all the required testing and working on all the applications necessary to be approved for the difficult third lung transplant that she will need to go on.
The Funds are Needed for Cassie’s Fight to Breathe
Third Bi-Lateral lung transplants are very rare and difficult procedures, but Cassie will need one to get her life back. Only three hospitals affiliated with Loyola Medical Center, Duke University Hospital (Durham, NC), Cleveland Clinic, and UPMC Pittsburgh currently perform the procedure and all of them would require proof of funds for relocation and support. Cassie’s family, boyfriend, friends and community are supporting her every way they can – as Cassie continues her fight, they are fighting for her too – but they need help to raise this money. The road ahead will not be easy, for Cassie or her family, but she is a fighter. Please contribute to this effort if you are able.
Cassie would like to continue her quest for a 3rd transplant at the top rated Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC as many other hospitals are not willing to take the risk of a 3rd lung transplant. Duke, has completed this type of surgery 27 times which makes them the most experienced center in the US. In order to be accepted Cassie and her family will need to establish a temporary residence in Durham, NC from Elburn IL. Duke requires in advance of acceptance a minimum of $15K of funding available for living expenses and support.


We are Extremely grateful for your help and Support!

We are Extremely grateful for your help and Support!
Cassie , age 34, a lifelong sufferer of Cystic Fibrosis, requires a rare and difficult 3rd lung transplant in order to save her life. In order to be approved for the transplant, the hospitals that perform it will require evidence that she has the funds needed for relocation, medical bills and recovery expenses. We are turning to you to help Cassie in this fight for her life and to raise the approximately $25,000 that she will need to go forward. We are grateful for any and all support that you can give.
Cassie
As everyone who knows her can attest, Cassie is a bright and wonderful woman, adored by her friends and family, and admired by all for her zest for life.
Cassie was diagnosed as an infant with Cystic Fibrosis, a progressive , genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. Cassie has made the most of every opportunity, refusing to let the CF stop her from living her life. .
Cassie managed to maintain her active lifestyle – She was on the Bartlett HS Dance team, graduated from Aurora University with a degree in English – until 2003, when her breathing became increasingly problematic. Since then, she has had to undergo two bi-lateral lung transplants, as well as continued testing, medications, and rehabilitation to prevent her body from rejecting the lungs. Each day, regardless of the difficulty, Cassie has faced the challenge with heart and optimism, and managed to prevail.
Current Situation
Until just recently, Cassie had been making the most of her life, even dedicating much of her time to serving and helping others. She was a paraprofessional for John Shield’s Elementary School in Sugar Grove, IL, where she worked with children who have special needs. She has also for the past several years worked as nanny for three children, caring for them daily after her regular job. In addition to all of this, Cassie met and began a relationship with Josh Miller, her loving boyfriend, and the two were trying to start their own life together. Their hopes are to eventually marry and have their own family.
But in late-May 2018, Cassie started experiencing breathing difficulties again. After testing, it was discovered that her lung function had deteriorated to 30% and officially diagnosed with Chronic rejection. Cassie kept working both of her jobs as long as possible and remained upbeat and hopeful about everything, but she has now had to stop working and will have to move back to her parents’ home for further help. Cassie is, growing extremely fatigued, weak, and lost her appetite and no longer has the energy to work, meet with friends, all the things she truly loves doing. She is undergoing all the required testing and working on all the applications necessary to be approved for the difficult third lung transplant that she will need to go on.
The Funds are Needed for Cassie’s Fight to Breathe
Third Bi-Lateral lung transplants are very rare and difficult procedures, but Cassie will need one to get her life back. Only three hospitals affiliated with Loyola Medical Center, Duke University Hospital (Durham, NC), Cleveland Clinic, and UPMC Pittsburgh currently perform the procedure and all of them would require proof of funds for relocation and support. Cassie’s family, boyfriend, friends and community are supporting her every way they can – as Cassie continues her fight, they are fighting for her too – but they need help to raise this money. The road ahead will not be easy, for Cassie or her family, but she is a fighter. Please contribute to this effort if you are able.
Cassie would like to continue her quest for a 3rd transplant at the top rated Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC as many other hospitals are not willing to take the risk of a 3rd lung transplant. Duke, has completed this type of surgery 27 times which makes them the most experienced center in the US. In order to be accepted Cassie and her family will need to establish a temporary residence in Durham, NC from Elburn IL. Duke requires in advance of acceptance a minimum of $15K of funding available for living expenses and support.
We are Extremely grateful for your help and Support!
We are Extremely grateful for your help and Support!
Organizer
Rhonda Wolf May
Organizer
Elburn, IL
