What other say about Jamie Cassady
“Jamie is the strongest, most beautiful woman inside and out that I know! She needs everyone’s support to help her get through this journey. She is an amazing mother and wife to her precious family! She has inspired me in many ways, too many to count! We love you.” — The Sardinas family, Richmond Hill
“I’ve known her since she was 11 years old. Jamie is my best friend, my inspiration and my ‘heart sister.’ Her unwavering faith and tenacity in this fight has reached thousands of people who don’t know her, yet follow her journey and feel like they are walking right alongside her. Jamie, I love you #fromhawaiitoforever #usgirlz #heartsisters.” — Lorraine Villahermosa, Bristow, Virginia
“Jamie, the way you’ve handled this past year has inspired so many. The lives you touched are too numerous to count. Your spirit, faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ has shined through it all! We love you!” — Aunt Deb and Ken
“I would just like to express my gratitude to Jaime. She is such an inspiration to anyone fighting with their faith or cancer. She is such a fighter, she is such a beautiful person inside and out. By looking at her, you wouldn’t know she is sick. Her faith never wanes and her love for people, well, you can just see that in her eyes.” — Linda Covino, Photography by Linda Covino, Savannah
“Jamie has been our wonderful daughter-in-law for 16 years. She is such an inspiration to all of us and never ceases to amaze us with what she can conquer. Jamie is a great mother, wife, sister-in-law, friend and a never-ending source of comic relief. It is especially fun to watch her get in a battle of wits with her father-in-law, which she most often wins. We love you.” — Dawn Robertson Cassady, St. Augustine, Florida
“Jamie’s faith in God has been so inspiring to me — so much, my own faith has been renewed to a stronger level. … Jamie is showing us all the incredible power of faith in action. … Faith allows things to happen. It is the power that comes from a fearless heart. And when a fearless heart believes, miracles happen. … Jamie’s strength and courage has inspired our family so deeply. … Jamie’s fight has become everyone’s fight that knows and loves her. We love you.” — Aunt Gail and the Kiocho family, Oak Harbor, Washington
“I’ve had the privilege and honor of working with Jamie for over 17 years during my career in the wireless industry. Jamie has always been an inspiring and true leader. Always encouraging her team and lives by my favorite Scripture, Proverbs 3:6, ‘In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” — Linda Cook
“I’ve known Jamie for over 20 years. She’s always been a beautiful person inside and out — selfless, kind, full of energy and light. However, this past year, she has inspired me to look adversity in the face and tell it to bring it! She’s challenged me to balance my life with appropriate perspective on a daily basis! We can all get lost in the chaos of life and lose focus on why we are on this Earth. Jamie reminds and inspires me to seek those I am to cross paths with and make sure their lives are better for it. I’ve witnessed firsthand her turn to God with love and faith during the storms and tears. Jamie has made my life better, and she’s never been more beautiful than she is now. #UsGirlz #Spoonies #HeartSisters #BFF #LoveYouLongTime #WalkLikeABoss #JamiesFightIsMyFight” — Keila Nichols, Mount Airy, Georgia
“She never ceases to amaze me of how bravely she deals with all set backs and bad news. She continues to demonstrate her strength and bravery through each phase of this illness. She is an encourager, setting a beautiful example of how she meets with this wicked disease. I am a breast cancer survivor. I have seen many people suffer through cancer but never one as faithful as Jamie. Jamie, you are my hero.” — Betty Kleiss, Gadsden, Alabama
Editor's note: This article was inadvertently not posted online after it was published in the April 7 edition of the Bryan County News. Although the Fight Like a Boss fundraiser has already taken place, we still wanted to share her story on bryancountynews.com, and donations are still needed.
Richmond Hill High School graduate Jamie Cassady is facing much more than the daily duties of being a wife, mother and store manager.
She is battling cancer,“fighting like a boss” to give hope to others when she needs hope most of all.
Background
Cassady married her high school sweetheart, Paul. They had three children, Jaqlynn, Tye and Presley. She and her husband made it their goal to raise their children in Bryan County, so they left Ohio in 2009 and moved back to the Hill.
She has spent the last 16 years working for Alltel, continuing after it was taken over by AT&T, holding numerous management positions that have allowed for personal and professional growth.
Cassady said her career path has always been about others.
“It’s always about people and how each person can impact one another,” she said. “People work for people, not companies.”
Cancer battle
Her journey began in December 2014, when she discovered a pea-sized knot in her left breast. After a mammogram and ultrasound testing, she was given a good report and told to come back in six months for follow-up.
Despite being given a “no findings” report, Cassady found herself searching for more answers. Over the next seven weeks, the knot became more painful and grew rapidly.
On April 6, 2015, Cassady was officially told she had cancer, invasive ductile carcinoma ER-plus, stage II. The diagnosis is rare and typically does not present itself in women younger than 60.
“This meant the cancer cells had already began invading my body,” she said.
Extensive testing and biopsies revealed how far the cancer had spread.
Her mind and spirit were prepared to fight, but it seemed her body would not respond to treatment.
“It appeared my cancer was not responding to chemo and that my only option was surgery,” Cassady said. “At this point, I decided to go to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Newnan, Georgia, to get a second opinion.”
At CTCA, she suffered another devastating blow in the form of a new diagnosis, triple negative breast cancer, stage III, one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. She underwent surgery in October, when doctors discovered a 10-centimeter tumor and 10 of 15 lymph nodes that were grossly impacted.
“‘Grossly’ meant the lymph nodes were so full of cancer, the cancer was overflowing,” Cassady said. “We believe doing surgery without completing a second cycle of chemo was a good decision.”
After surgery, radiation began in November and was expected to last into the new year. As 2016 began, she faced a new challenge — a stage IV diagnosis, which led to a liver biopsy and the reality that chemo was going to be long-term.
“I have a lot of fight in me, and God is on my side,” Cassady said. “Early on in this journey, he promised me that I would live and not die. So, although man has given me a timeline, I know that ultimately, God is the giver and taker of life.”
Cassady has made it clear through her faithful Facebook posts that the cancer battle is not about her, but about reaching people for God’s glory. She hopes that through her struggle and journey, others will have faith and see that there is still joy to be found. Through her faith and determination, she has already reached other women facing similar situations.
Fight Like a Boss
Now, Richmond Hill is gathering to show love and support to a woman who is boldly walking a walk and filling the community with awe.
People will gather Saturday to raise funds for Cassady. The “Fight Like a Boss” fundraiser will take place at J.F. Gregory Park. It will kick off with a 5K Run/Walk at 9a.m. and will be a day filled with opportunity to support her. The event will feature a bake sale, craft sale, 50/50 raffle, food and business vendors, pony rides and inflatables. Attendees can get Highlights for Hope (pink hair highlights) from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be several meet-and-greet opportunities with Cassady. The day will wrap up with a free concert and raffle drawing at 6 p.m. Concertgoers are asked to bring their own chairs.
There will be some several silent auction items, including a trip to Panama, designer wedding gown, 20 units of botox, and gift cards and other fun items.
For more information on the Fight Like a Boss fundraiser, go to visit the Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/JamieCassadyFundraiser. To make a donation, go to www.gofundme.com/jamiecassady.