Hi friends,

Earlier this year, I experienced an incredibly difficult loss. My best friend, Kya Papaya—a gentle, goofy Cane Corso/German Shepherd mix—passed away suddenly. What started as a vet visit for some sneezing turned into three intense weeks of emergency care, blood transfusions, and medications. We later learned she was in late-stage bone cancer. Kya was only 6, just shy of her 7th birthday.

We adopted her in Salem, MA on Halloween in 2018, and in that time she became the most loyal road trip buddy, traveling across North America with us. She truly was family.

Her unexpected illness and the cost of trying everything to save her left me with over $26,000 in vet bills—something I wasn’t prepared for. Since her passing, I’ve thrown myself into volunteering and fostering at the local humane society, trying to honor her legacy and give back in the ways I can.

In the midst of this, I also took a leap and applied to a program I’ve admired for years: the Harvard Medical School Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership (SQIL) program. It’s a year-long certificate that trains leaders to improve how care is delivered—and I got in.

This program costs $14,900, and I’ve already made the initial down payment of $2,980. I’m applying for tuition assistance and picking up extra work, but I’m still short. I’m reaching out to see if any friends, family, or kind-hearted strangers might be willing to help me bridge the gap.

This isn’t just about a degree—it’s about transforming heartbreak into something purposeful. With what I learn, I hope to create real change in healthcare: better systems for patients, safer environments for providers, and less heartbreak for families navigating illness.

If you're able to contribute, I can’t thank you enough. And if you can't, sharing this would mean the world.

Thank you so much for reading and for cheering me on.

❤️

Cassie