This One's For Cassie
Donation protected
I hope you'll take a moment to read this and get to know this sweet girl, Cassie.
I met Cassie a few months ago through my cousin. Cassie is originally from Peoria but had been living in Kentucky with her husband who is in the military and their four year old son, Matthew. Cassie's mom's health has been failing so Cassie moved back to Peoria to help take care of her with her husband having to stay in Kentucky. She had also recently found out that she was pregnant but is extremely high risk so she needed to come back to the area to see the same high risk doctor that cared for her through her pregnancy with Matthew. Soon after coming back and the news of the baby, Cassie got a different kind of news when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I seriously cannot imagine getting news like that while newly pregnant with what they soon learned was a baby girl.
Cassie started chemo immediately and they have had to closely manage it through her pregnancy. Even through all of her chemo treatments and being pregnant, she lives with and takes care of her ailing mom and also goes to her Grandma's every day to care for her, bathe her and make sure she has dinner. And of course cares for her sweet son on top of it.
Cassie is being induced on Wednesday and will welcome her baby girl, Annabelle. She'll then start chemo again next week, every week for 12 weeks. And in February she'll undergo a double mastectomy and will figure out a go forward plan from there. A heavy burden to bear at just 28 years old with two littles ones and a long distance husband serving our country.
We tell you all of this because we're trying to find ways to help Cassie and her family through this. As you can imagine money is tight but the needs are great. We're asking our So Chic family and friends to help bless Cassie and her family. We will be collecting gift cards to help them buy necessary supplies - diapers, wipes, formula, etc. If you connect with Cassie's story and want to help, you can drop any donations off to our store or you can certainly mail them to us and we will ensure that Cassie gets every single one. We want our So Chic family near and far to be a part of this. Gift cards to Target, Wal-Mart and Kroger, and restaurants would be amazing blessings for their family. As would outright donations. Seriously take $20 you might have spent at So Chic and donate it to this family. I mean that. I've been given an amazing platform to support this family and I'm going to use it in any way possible to help.
My mom has been through breast cancer twice and, even as an adult, it was so hard watching her go through it. I cannot imagine how overwhelming and confusing this must be for sweet Matthew and how hard it must be on her husband being so far away. To all of you wives and mothers with young children out there - I'm sure your heart is aching like mine and we're probably thinking the same thought: 'I cannot imagine'.
Donations collected with go towards living expenses, medical bills, supplies for their family and so much more. Obviously Cassie is unable to work through any of this and is also helping to support her mom. The outright donations go a long way in helping their family.
Let's bless her. Anything will be appreciated and so needed. Much love to you for reading this and even greater love for helping.
You are also welcome to mail or drop off donations to:
So Chic Boutique
111 W. Washington St.
Morton, IL 61550
Photo credit Kristen Winkler Photography - she continues to beautifully capture Cassie's story.
I met Cassie a few months ago through my cousin. Cassie is originally from Peoria but had been living in Kentucky with her husband who is in the military and their four year old son, Matthew. Cassie's mom's health has been failing so Cassie moved back to Peoria to help take care of her with her husband having to stay in Kentucky. She had also recently found out that she was pregnant but is extremely high risk so she needed to come back to the area to see the same high risk doctor that cared for her through her pregnancy with Matthew. Soon after coming back and the news of the baby, Cassie got a different kind of news when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I seriously cannot imagine getting news like that while newly pregnant with what they soon learned was a baby girl.
Cassie started chemo immediately and they have had to closely manage it through her pregnancy. Even through all of her chemo treatments and being pregnant, she lives with and takes care of her ailing mom and also goes to her Grandma's every day to care for her, bathe her and make sure she has dinner. And of course cares for her sweet son on top of it.
Cassie is being induced on Wednesday and will welcome her baby girl, Annabelle. She'll then start chemo again next week, every week for 12 weeks. And in February she'll undergo a double mastectomy and will figure out a go forward plan from there. A heavy burden to bear at just 28 years old with two littles ones and a long distance husband serving our country.
We tell you all of this because we're trying to find ways to help Cassie and her family through this. As you can imagine money is tight but the needs are great. We're asking our So Chic family and friends to help bless Cassie and her family. We will be collecting gift cards to help them buy necessary supplies - diapers, wipes, formula, etc. If you connect with Cassie's story and want to help, you can drop any donations off to our store or you can certainly mail them to us and we will ensure that Cassie gets every single one. We want our So Chic family near and far to be a part of this. Gift cards to Target, Wal-Mart and Kroger, and restaurants would be amazing blessings for their family. As would outright donations. Seriously take $20 you might have spent at So Chic and donate it to this family. I mean that. I've been given an amazing platform to support this family and I'm going to use it in any way possible to help.
My mom has been through breast cancer twice and, even as an adult, it was so hard watching her go through it. I cannot imagine how overwhelming and confusing this must be for sweet Matthew and how hard it must be on her husband being so far away. To all of you wives and mothers with young children out there - I'm sure your heart is aching like mine and we're probably thinking the same thought: 'I cannot imagine'.
Donations collected with go towards living expenses, medical bills, supplies for their family and so much more. Obviously Cassie is unable to work through any of this and is also helping to support her mom. The outright donations go a long way in helping their family.
Let's bless her. Anything will be appreciated and so needed. Much love to you for reading this and even greater love for helping.
You are also welcome to mail or drop off donations to:
So Chic Boutique
111 W. Washington St.
Morton, IL 61550
Photo credit Kristen Winkler Photography - she continues to beautifully capture Cassie's story.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sara 'Ray' O'Shea
Organizer
Peoria, IL
Cassandra Berry
Beneficiary