KANSAS CITY - (KSNT) Every St. Jude patient has a story, and Cassidy's is nothing short of inspiring.
Cassidy grew up playing competitive softball and spending quality time with her family as a teenager. She loved staying active and was excited for her sophomore year softball season when she noticed she was having breathing issues during practices.
After what thought to be a simple sickness, doctors told Cassidy life changing information.
"My mom came back into the room, and she just sat there, and I could tell something was wrong," Cassidy told 27 News. "She just said the doctors found a tumor. It's taking up your whole left lung. They think it's stage three. They think it spread to your spleen, and you have cancer."
Last chance to win Sutherlands gift card from St. Jude
Cassidy and her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she was admitted to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Even at one of the scariest moments in her life, Cassidy says she never felt alone.
"I remember the women who checked us in being just so incredibly kind and just wonderful and welcoming. When you see their doctors working, when you see their nurses working, when you see just any of their team members working, that's what they're there to do. They don't just say it, they do it."
After her first scans, doctors were able to diagnose Cassidy with stage two Hodgkin's lymphoma, a verry treatable form of cancer. She was set up on a chemotherapy plan, and in just four months, she was deemed cancer free.
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Thanks to St. Jude, Cassidy has spent the last 11 years of her life cancer free. She hopes that by sharing her story, it will shine a light on the organization.
"I can be this person who like advocates for just awareness for such an amazing organization like St. Jude. I can bring awareness to them, and I can tell people about the amazing things they do and why they should donate to St. Jude," Cassidy said.
The Dream Home can be found at 2635 SW Sherwood Park Drive in southwest Topeka. It is being built by Drippé Homes, and has an estimated value of $600,000. It will be raffled off to one lucky winner.
Features of the dream home include three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an estimated 2,200 square feet. Free tours of the home run from July 12-28 at the following times:
Less than 1,700 tickets for the 2024 St. Jude Dream Home are available. Each ticket is $100. Get a ticket here or call (800) 846-2640.
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