Meet ASK Kid Cassidy
- hgardner88
- Sep 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 4
Meet ASK Kid Cassidy!
With a bubbly personality and a spark of creativity that shines through everything she does, 12-year-old Cassidy lights up every room she enters. She loves making people smile, expressing herself through music, and finding joy in the little things — whether playing her keyboard, laughing with her friends and family, or horseback riding.
Cassidy's journey started with what seemed like a small bump on her head — a leftover injury from falling off a horse months earlier. But when her lymph nodes suddenly swelled to the size of golf balls, her family knew something wasn't right.
"We took her to urgent care, and they sent us straight to the ER," her mom, Rachel, recalled. At just 11 years old, Cassidy was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer. What followed were long months of challenging treatments, setbacks, and moments that tested every ounce of her strength.
"Her treatment hasn't been easy," Rachel shared. "But Cassidy has handled everything with remarkable strength."
As Cassidy entered the maintenance phase of her treatment, she hoped to return to school—but ongoing health challenges meant virtual learning was the best option. That's when ASK stepped in.
Lisa Meares, one of ASK's Education Support Navigators, helped the family navigate homebound instruction and coordinated meetings with school staff to ensure Cassidy had the accommodations she needed to succeed.
"Having that support made a huge difference!"
- Rachel, ASK Kid Cassidy's Mom
Throughout her journey, music has been a powerful source of comfort. Cassidy started playing the keyboard during treatment and loved participating in music therapy. A massive fan of Benson Boone, she once made a video with nurses in the hospital set to his songs. That video turned into something unforgettable. At a recent concert, Cassidy held a sign that read, "Your music has helped me through cancer." Not only did Benson Boone spot it — he dedicated a song to her and gave her a hug. Cassidy called it "almost making it all worth it."
Determined to keep life joyful despite setbacks, Cassidy's family is dedicated to making memories wherever and whenever they can—whether it be concerts, family vacations, or spontaneous adventures. "Of course, some plans were interrupted by hospital visits, but we moved forward," Rachel explained.
Cassidy has also turned her experience into purpose. She and her family are working on a line of adaptive clothing designed for kids and young adults with ostomies—helping fill a much-needed gap. This past August, Cassidy modeled some designs at the UOAA Convention in Florida.
Though cancer has changed Cassidy and her family's lives, they've found strength, hope, and resilience in unexpected places. Her journey is one of courage, creativity, and heart. With her family, music, and ASK by her side, she's facing the future—one brave step at a time.
