Hi all, I’m Cassi Cruz. I’m a mother of three, currently facing my own health concerns, but this story isn’t about me. This campaign is for my eldest daughter, Mia, who is just 18 years old. If you could meet her, within five minutes you’d see what a strong, loving, thoughtful, determined, and hopeful person she is, despite the obstacles she’s had to overcome—and the ones she now faces.
At 13, Mia was diagnosed with epilepsy. Her seizures come without warning and have changed her life in ways that are both seen and unseen. She’s had seizures at home in addition to a few at school and has often come through them scared, confused, overwhelmed and sometimes even physically bruised. Medications help to an extent, but they too come with their own harsh side effects that include dizziness, fatigue, and intense migraines. Despite all this, Mia has never let her epilepsy define her. She has soldiered on to advocate for others with disabilities at her local high school, volunteered consistently in our hometown, became co-president of her school’s ASL club, and even with extended absences due to her medical condition, Mia is a member of the National Honor Society and has maintained a 3.8 GPA, which she hopes will lead her onto the road of becoming an attorney.
Now here is the part where our family needs your help. Two months ago, Mia’s epilepsy became more severe than ever. She was up to nearly 10 seizures a day and had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance on more than one occasion. After multiple hospital stays in two different pediatric ICU’s, her seizures have given her stroke-like symptoms and have claimed the functions of the right side of her body. She is now reliant on a wheelchair for the foreseeable future and will have a long hard road of therapy ahead of her. Her goals now are just to speak clearly again, stand, and walk on her own. We are a family of 5 plus 2 dogs who are living off one single income. We have done our best to cover the costs associated with the journey of her condition, but there are always new costs around every corner and things are adding up far too quickly for us to keep up. We are humbly asking and are so incredibly grateful for any help that you can provide, whether it’s through donations, sharing this page, or prayer. Believe me when I say, it all means the world to Mia. It’s a reminder that in this fight, she is not on her own, and neither are we.
Recently, Mia was confronted with a serious medical challenge that has turned our world upside down. The mounting hospital invoices—ambulance bills, charges for hospital stays and ventilators, testing, medications—are overwhelming. On top of that, Mia needs extensive therapy, including occupational, physical, and speech therapy, to help her recover and regain independence. We’re also hoping to secure a safe, used vehicle that can accommodate her wheelchair, our family, and her service dog, so she can get to and from appointments. At home, we need to make modifications like installing ramps, widening doorways, and adding grab bars and shower adjustments to ensure Mia’s safety and comfort. Our dog Roxy has already begun service animal training to help detect and alert us to Mia’s seizures, and continued training is essential for Mia’s well-being.
Honestly, thank you doesn’t feel like enough… but thank you. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read about our Mia. If you’re able to donate, please know that any amount, big or small, would be such a blessing for our family. Truly, anything helps as we navigate the road ahead. And if donating isn’t possible, a share of this link could make a huge difference to our family during this difficult time.
At 13, Mia was diagnosed with epilepsy. Her seizures come without warning and have changed her life in ways that are both seen and unseen. She’s had seizures at home in addition to a few at school and has often come through them scared, confused, overwhelmed and sometimes even physically bruised. Medications help to an extent, but they too come with their own harsh side effects that include dizziness, fatigue, and intense migraines. Despite all this, Mia has never let her epilepsy define her. She has soldiered on to advocate for others with disabilities at her local high school, volunteered consistently in our hometown, became co-president of her school’s ASL club, and even with extended absences due to her medical condition, Mia is a member of the National Honor Society and has maintained a 3.8 GPA, which she hopes will lead her onto the road of becoming an attorney.
Now here is the part where our family needs your help. Two months ago, Mia’s epilepsy became more severe than ever. She was up to nearly 10 seizures a day and had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance on more than one occasion. After multiple hospital stays in two different pediatric ICU’s, her seizures have given her stroke-like symptoms and have claimed the functions of the right side of her body. She is now reliant on a wheelchair for the foreseeable future and will have a long hard road of therapy ahead of her. Her goals now are just to speak clearly again, stand, and walk on her own. We are a family of 5 plus 2 dogs who are living off one single income. We have done our best to cover the costs associated with the journey of her condition, but there are always new costs around every corner and things are adding up far too quickly for us to keep up. We are humbly asking and are so incredibly grateful for any help that you can provide, whether it’s through donations, sharing this page, or prayer. Believe me when I say, it all means the world to Mia. It’s a reminder that in this fight, she is not on her own, and neither are we.
Recently, Mia was confronted with a serious medical challenge that has turned our world upside down. The mounting hospital invoices—ambulance bills, charges for hospital stays and ventilators, testing, medications—are overwhelming. On top of that, Mia needs extensive therapy, including occupational, physical, and speech therapy, to help her recover and regain independence. We’re also hoping to secure a safe, used vehicle that can accommodate her wheelchair, our family, and her service dog, so she can get to and from appointments. At home, we need to make modifications like installing ramps, widening doorways, and adding grab bars and shower adjustments to ensure Mia’s safety and comfort. Our dog Roxy has already begun service animal training to help detect and alert us to Mia’s seizures, and continued training is essential for Mia’s well-being.
Honestly, thank you doesn’t feel like enough… but thank you. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read about our Mia. If you’re able to donate, please know that any amount, big or small, would be such a blessing for our family. Truly, anything helps as we navigate the road ahead. And if donating isn’t possible, a share of this link could make a huge difference to our family during this difficult time.