Please help! Cassie, a school teacher, is on her way to get a Kidney Transplant!!!

Hi, my name is Kristen and I'm raising money for my cousin Cassandra Conley. Cassandra (Cassie) has been devoted to children all of her life. From traveling with various families to watch over their young children, to baby-sitting, to fostering children. Cassie finally adopted a baby that was born at 27 weeks, weighing only 1 lb 13 oz. For weeks she drove to another Kansas town to visit and care for her new infant child in the NICU at the hospital. She kept a blog from foster care to adoption. Some of you followed her. She and her sweet daughter are extremely close, since it is just the two of them, and they are quite a bit alike.

Today Cassie teaches theatre arts in a small town in Kansas. Her health will not only impact her precious child but also her teaching, theatre work and her life itself.

In February 2022, Cassie was diagnosed with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), a condition that causes cysts and fibrous tissue to slowly destroy kidney function. In her case, the disease appears to be spontaneous rather than inherited. At just 47 years old, Cassie has been fighting kidney failure while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy for her daughter, Josephine, now 10.

After years of waiting, hoping, and fighting, Cassie finally received the call she has prayed for — a donor kidney is ready for her in Kansas City.

For those who know Cassie, you know she is the kind of person who pours her heart into others. As a dedicated teacher, she has spent her career shaping young minds, showing up every day with patience, compassion, and a smile — even on the days when her health made it incredibly difficult. She has faced years of dialysis, exhaustion, and uncertainty, yet she never let it dim her spirit or her commitment to her students.

Now, she finally has a chance at a healthier, fuller life.

But the journey doesn’t end with the surgery.

Why We’re Asking for Help:

Following her transplant, Cassie is required to remain in Kansas City for at least 30 days (3 hours from home) so her medical team can closely monitor her recovery, adjust medications, and ensure her new kidney is functioning properly. This means a full month away from home, work, and her support system.

Your generosity will help cover essential expenses during this critical recovery period, including:

Words cannot express how grateful we are for your kindness, support, and prayers. Thank you for helping lighten the burden on Cassie so she can focus on healing and returning home to her daughter.