Manifesting A Financial Miracle For A Chance To Save My Mom!

Hi everyone, this is Cass Cates.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone taking the time to read this; Please watch the video above! I made it months after her stroke; it tells the story of her journey and the heartbreaking obstacles she's had to endure that have led to this fundraiser for our incredible mom!

On May 11, 2023, our world changed forever when our sweet and beautiful mom, Billie Sue Cates, had a horrific ischemic stroke that left the entire left side of her body paralyzed. The stroke also occurred shortly after learning the devastating news that one of my 3 older sisters was diagnosed with stage 4 lung and brain cancer. After 2 years of both of them fighting for their lives, our mom's biggest fear became a reality: losing one of her children while she was still alive. My sister passed away 2 days after Easter Sunday on April 22, 2025, surrounded by our mom and all of our family.

My mom has constantly fought through excruciating pain in her neck due to dystonia, bladder spasms due to UTI and E. coli infections, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a bed sore due to neglect from the first rehab nursing home. She requires 24-hour care that Medicare doesn't cover. A couple of months ago, she had a complete hysterectomy and a cancer scare, and she spent the past 2 months overcoming Sepsis, Covid, UTI infections, bedsores, blood transfusion, Vasovagal Syncope, constant bleeding in her uterus, constant nausea, and has lost 70 LBS. The daily dose of over 25 prescribed medications only seemed to make things worse. None of which compares to the loss of watching her daughter pass away.

I'm trying to do everything in my power not to lose my mom, too. There was nothing we could do to save our sister, but I truly believe we can save our mom and get her strong again.

For 45 years, our mom worked as a teller and community service at all of the Trustmark and Community Banks in DeSoto County; she coined the nickname "Sweet Ms. Billie." She is known and loved by so many people everywhere she goes and has spread joy and love to everyone she has ever met.

We have hit a wall at almost every turn, dealing with Medicare, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation, care provider neglect, doctors, social workers, elder attorneys, and just about every aspect of health care you can think of. It's heart-wrenching to get a real taste of the healthcare system and how our elders are treated after working so hard their entire lives.

For almost two years, we have avoided asking for any outside help. We also postponed making the final decision to sell her still-mortgage home, with the hopes that she would improve and be able to come back to her home. But unfortunately, there is now no other choice. We have gone through savings, retirement funds, and IRAs and began selling furniture and appliances to cover the cost of all of the expenses insurance doesn't cover, including her 24-hour assisted living facility, house payments, continuous prescribed medications (over $1000 a month after Medicare), medical equipment, and all of the daily supplies she needs due to the stroke. Over $8000 a month for almost 2 years, that's not including all of the money that my aunt, sisters, and I have paid out, my airfare flying back and forth, or all of the time off work. All of our funds have run out. Please understand that this is my sincere effort to explain the current financial situation.

My goal is to raise as much money as possible to give her continuous speech, occupational, physical, and psychological therapy for the next 4-6 months, along with a proper diet and seeing a nutritionist. I'm fighting a continuous battle to get her proper nutrition. For the past year, along with caring for my mom, I've been working around the clock trying to get her house ready to sell and the heartbreaking task of getting rid of so many of my mom's things. The money from the house will cover her 24-hour assisted living for about a year and a half after the balance of the mortgage is paid. But that won't even come close to the amount she needs to help her regain her health before it's too late. Also, we are trying to find a solution for her to have easier transport to and from all of the doctor visits. It's becoming almost impossible to get her in and out of a car without causing her pain, and also getting her a bigger room that allows her more handicapped maneuverability.

I truly believe we can get her stronger and able to walk again on her own, and get some of her dignity back, she has lost having to be taken care of 24 hrs a day. Also, she will need continuous therapy on her paralyzed arm and will require so much more work that Medicare will not cover.

Since she had the stroke, we've had so many friends wanting to help and have been asking if I would do a GoFundMe for her. Again, we were hoping not to have to ask for help, and we are beyond appreciative, especially knowing there are so many families going through health issues with their loved ones.

Please keep her in your prayers, and thank you from the bottom of my heart! There is no amount too small that's not appreciated! (Even a penny from every pocket can add up to a significant sum when shared by many.)

Thanks again for all of the love and support! Click on this link to see the most adorable video of my mom!https://youtu.be/OYI2ZP0FolI?si=8tadVtK89t4Ih3XJ

God bless!