A Call for Support: My Family's Fight Against Loss and Illness

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

I am Kristie Cass, and I am reaching out with a heavy heart and deep gratitude for any support you can offer my family during the most challenging time of our lives.

The Loss of My Father

It all started when my father fell ill in October of 2023 requiring immediate heart surgery. What we thought would be a routine fix, some rehabilitation, then a return home with me quickly turned into ten long months of a soldier’s fight. My father was truly a Marine until the very end. Due to his up and down stability and critical condition I dedicated myself to being present for my father as he fought as hard as he could. His care required him to be at the Veterans Hospital in San Francisco, which meant I had to stay locally, far from home for almost a year. While I am grateful I could be there for all of his treatments and surgeries until his passing in July 2024, the cost of the extended hotel stays and travel significantly depleted my savings.

‍‍ The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Shortly after losing my father, my focus shifted to my youngest daughter, Jordan, in November 2024. She was away pursuing her Master’s degree at the University of Southern California when she suddenly fell ill with what we thought was the flu but it wouldn’t go away and continued to progress with symptoms getting worse be the day. So I drove to her from Northern California, got her to the nearest ER to find out she was hours from death when we received the worst news of my life. It was not the flu at all, she was suddenly diagnosed with the ultra rare hematological disease, Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS). 1 of 626 cases in the US .  The illness has caused total kidney failure, requiring daily dialysis and monthly infusions and she is now facing a critical wait on the kidney transplant list. My once healthy, beautiful 22 old year is now in a daily fight for her life. Needless to say I immediately dropped everything and moved 8 hours south to be with her. I now provide her with around-the-clock medical care, managing her dialysis, medications, blood pressure, and appointments, to ensure she has the best chance at surviving this disease.

Despite this diagnosis, she is still going to school and completing her degree.

Jordan has always been someone who doesn’t let obstacles stop her from achieving her goals. She was Valedictorian of her graduating high school class (the first to do so in our family), she graduated from Pepperdine University with her Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine in April of 2024 with honors (magna cum laude) and she received the Outstanding Sports Medicine Bachelor of Science Student Award given to one graduating senior voted on by all of the Sports Medicine Faculty at Pepperdine University. She became the third person in my family to obtain a bachelor’s degree. As a first generation student (defined at not having parents who went to and graduated from college) she also became the first in the family to apply and attend graduate school. She is currently entering her last semester this upcoming spring for her Master of Science in Biokinesiology at the University of Southern California with graduation coming up in May of 2026. Even when the odds are stacked against her she has never been one to

shy away from a challenge and this diagnosis is truly no different.

I Need Your Help to Keep Going

Between the prolonged period of care for my father and the intensive medical needs of my daughter, I have been unable to maintain steady employment. I am currently her full-time caregiver, a job that is vital but provides no income.

The financial reality is overwhelming. I am trying to manage:

    •    Basic living costs (rent, food, utilities) for myself and my daughter.

    •    The mounting medical co-pays, specialized dietary needs, and prescription costs associated with aHUS.

    •    Frequent hospital visits required for transplant preparation.

My goal is to raise $20,000 to allow me to focus on my daughter’s survival without the crushing anxiety of losing our home or the ability to pay for her care.

I have always been the one to care for my family, but right now, I need your strength. Any donation you can give, or simply sharing my story, is a lifeline that means the world to us. Thank you for walking this journey with us and for your kindness it truly means the world to my family. Happy holidays and lots of love to you and yours.