Cassie's fight against a Brain Injury

7 years ago I was smashed into a concrete post. 2 months later hit in the head with what we think has some hard object. I lost 2 1/2 years of my memory that I still haven’t gotten back. and developed severe seizures ranging from 1-7 a day.

We are now being sent to do private testing (I have been sent to a specialist center where I can be monitored closely and given medication during the scanning process. As last time I had a seizure in the machine and severely hurt myself) to help find out more information and to work on the effects of the brain injury. Day by day life has changed significantly with my mobility being extremely affected. I went from a strong-willed girl to a woman who needs support all the time. Someone to assist with my seizures. Someone to help me walk when I lose my vision and everything goes black. My goal is to be safe enough to get back out and go on adventures with my friends and family. Have fun and get back into my horse-riding (however to do that we are going to need to make changes to my saddle, we have to get a custom saddle made that holds my legs into place via attachment from my upper thigh to my foot secured in the stirrups)

I want to be able to go shopping with friends, go out for dinner knowing that I will be safe, being able to be on my own without the risk of a seizure or harm. I have a suspected brain tumor which unfortunately isn’t covered under Acc and the public health system is pressured at this time that I was told to go private for quicker results and treatment times, as my symptoms are worsening as time goes on. Now also discovering compressive disc bulges from my C1-C7 vertebrae we have to make some serious adjustments in both my care (mobility) and in the sport that I love. The money you wonderful people are helping me with is going to help me make a normal life that I can love instead of feeling like I’ve just got to survive. I will have a future fulled with the things I love to do and am passionate about. I want to go back to school get my degree in social work to help more people. Until then I need intensive testing that DHB services aren't able to give me , Dr's appointments, MRI scans, CAT scans new medications that aren't easily available or funded such as CBD oils a bottle costs between $400-$1000. This is to try and control the severity of my seizures and pain. I will always have seizures, however, at the moment they are lasting between 5 minutes to an hour leaving me with the risk of severe brain damage.

I am scared, my life has dramatically changed before my eyes over the past 7 years. But the last 6 months have been the scariest time of my life, knowing that I could possibly go permanently

paralyzed if something shifts is a really scary thought to wake up to every morning. I didn't see myself in this position at 21. But I am trying to fight as hard as I can,

I want to fight for a good quality of life again. I wish to have the life of a 21-year-old.

All donations will be used for scans, specialist appointments, travel expenses, medication costs, surgery, doctors expenses and treatment services