Today was another great day and meeting with my two LLS buds, the national office and hubby to work on logistics and details of the national Planned Giving Pilot we've been working on for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!
I love the brainstorming process and when things all start to come together with great synergy!! Truly looking forward to seeing how this all turns out as there are many great ideas and ways to make this an inspiration and educational event for current and future LLS Donors.
So thankful for the opportunity to work on this with so many wonderful team members.
Love,
Jessica L. Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International
Exciting news, Jessica ! The 21st Century Cures Act has passed the House of Representatives by a
vote of 344 to 77. Now the fight moves to the Senate. Rep.
Dave Trott voted for the bill – Jessica , can you take a minute to
thank your representative for supporting cancer patients? It's critical to show elected officials we're watching their votes – and
counting on them to stand with blood cancer patients, today and tomorrow.
It's how we hold them accountable for their future support. It makes a huge
difference. Write
to Rep. Dave Trott now to say "thanks" for supporting
21st Century Cures >> This victory is the result of months of hard work, including letters,
calls, and office visits from advocates like you. If we can pass 21st
Century Cures in the Senate, we'll streamline approvals for critical
medicines and get life-saving cures to cancer patients more quickly.
Thank you for all that you do for blood cancer patients and their families
– onward to the Senate!
Sincerely,
Sharon Ladin
Executive Director, Advocacy
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Back in April we had a client lose her husband suddenly and during that time her son came in for a month to stay with her to help handle affairs associated with the loss of a loved one. During that time he became very ill but was unsure what was wrong. Upon returning home (Arizona) he was admitted to the hospital for fever, nausea, pain, lymph node swelling amongst a plethora of other symptoms. He receive a complete work-up, spinal tap and biopsy included, and finally was sent home to rest.
After calling to check in, he gave me the run down of the possibilities of what his illness may be. The list was Fungal Meningitis, Valley Fever or Lymphoma. Being connected as deeply as I am to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society my heart dropped with the possibility of Lymphoma and that he would potentially have to fight for his life, in addition to just losing his step-father. During our conversation, I assured him that if it were the latter of the three that I would help him connect with LLS in Arizona and provide him all the patient service information he would need. Of course he was appreciative, however, this was the first time in my life that I wished someone meningitis or valley fever. It was the strangest feeling ever.
Today I received a wonderful call from Danny's mother to let me know that they finally had results............................VALLEY FEVER and FUNGAL MENINGITIS!!!! I don't think I have ever been happier for someone; NO LYMPHOMA!!!!! WHEW! Needless to say this call made my day and am so thankful that he received better news than he planned for!
I realize that the "C" word is one of the worst words in the English language and I am so grateful to have healthy children and a healthy family!
Hug your loved ones just a little more and a little harder today!
Love,
Jessica L. Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International
Dear Jessica , Thanks for sending a message to your Representative in support of the
21st Century Cures Act. With your help, we can improve the federal drug
approval process and save lives by ensuring that cures get to patients even
faster, saving lives in the process. Before the House votes on 21st Century Cures, we need to make sure
Representatives hear loud and clear that they need to support this measure.
Will you help raise the volume by sharing this action with your friends and
family? Share this action with your family and friends on Facebook or on Twitter, or just forward the message below.
Watch your inbox for continued updates on this issue. Thanks again for
being a part of this fight. Sincerely,
Sharon Ladin
Executive Director, Advocacy
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ----------------------FORWARD MESSAGE BELOW--------------------- Right now, it takes nine years or longer for a new cancer treatment to
make its way to the market. Nine years is too
long for patients to wait for life-saving cures. We need to update the drug approval process and accelerate the pace of
breakthroughs. And right now, the House of Representatives is considering a
bill that would do just that: the 21st Century Cures Act.
This morning I opened up my Yahoo and came across this story. I cannot even imagine what this family is going through and my heart just breaks. I can only hope and pray that these munchkins beat cancer.
This family is from Jacksonville, FL which his where the Mrs. International pageant is taking place. This really hits home for me as my mission to help find cures through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is in every fabric of my being and is my sole purpose for competing for the coveted title of Mrs. International. It's to give a voice to those who are weak, scared and fighting for their lives. To help improve therapies and bring innovative therapies to patients.
I am praying for this family.
Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International
Emma, left, was recently diagnosed with leukemia and her identical twin Ella, right, is now undergoing tests. (YouCaring.com)
Three small children two years apart present enough challenges for any parents, but throw leukemia into the mix and you have the truly daunting case of Lacey and Will Smith of Jacksonville, Fla. Just days before identical twins Emma and Ella were born 8 weeks early in 2013, their big brother Liam, now 5, was diagnosed. Still grieving the loss of the girls’ triplet sister, who passed in utero, per a YouCaring.com page, Lacey and Will were suddenly caring for two premature babies and a toddler battling cancer.
The challenge took everything they had, so much so that Lacey said her biggest fear is that Liam’s cancer would return when he was in remission. Now perhaps a worse scenario: not only has Emma, now 2, been diagnosed with leukemia, but Ella isn’t in the clear yet as she undergoes testing, reports WSB-TV.
Drowning in medical bills, the family is asking for help—and as of this writing has passed $30,000 of their $100,000 goal to help cover expenses. Their YouCaring.com page has been shared about 12,000 times, with commenters offering free photography sessions and help with errands. Lacey is posting updates on Facebook, and wrote last week that Emma is “doing great” on her third day of chemo, though she is “starting to feel the effects of the steroids; increased hunger, angry spurts and short temperament.” Her brother Liam, who is in remission but has a year of treatment ahead, is giving Emma all sorts of advice, including the best rooms to visit and how to score animal crackers. (Good news: One leukemia treatment has a stunning success rate.)
A while back we were approached by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to develop a National Planned Giving Pilot Program to launch in Michigan. We of course accepted the challenge and have been working with the committee to develop the pilot. We have an official November launch and look forward to our upcoming meeting on the 7th with Frank Canning - LLS Senior Director Partnership, Pam Swenk - Executive Director, Illinois, Doug Glazier - Executive Director, Michigan to discuss the additional logistics and planning items for the event!
Truly looking forward to a great meeting with great people!!
Jessica L. Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015
Today was my youngest child's birthday! It amazes me how time has flown and the little tiny peanut she was is no longer. Though I miss my tiny little peanut, it is so exciting to see her grow and learn every day. She is becoming quite the character and is the sweetest cuddle bug I know.
The day of her birthday we were supposed to have a baseball tournament that ended up getting rained out so it was a great opportunity for us to spend the day with her. Even though she was disappointed that she didn't get to hang out with her baseball family we made sure she had a great day which in the end included some of our baseball family.
So proud to have the privilege of being her mother.
Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has more good
news to share about acute myeloid leukemia (AML)!
Celator Pharmaceuticals, an important biotechnology partner
in LLS’s Therapy
Acceleration Program, released data this week regarding its
study of an experimental therapy – a special formulation of two standard
chemotherapy drugs to treat elderly patients with high-risk AML.
The new therapy performed better than the standard course of
treatment currently used. With a patient response rate of more than 47%, this news is very encouraging
as it represents a positive advance for patients with few options for
effective treatment.
We’ve been telling you that AML is an aggressive blood
cancer with a survival rate of just more than 25% across all cases and how
treatment hasn’t changed for more than 30 years. We believe this is about to change.
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THE DAY HAS COME!!! It is with the utmost excitement to be able to announce that with great dedication comes great reward!
With our continued work to advocate and raise funds for LLS we are finally able to name a research grant in honor of my late father-in-law which will specifically target immunotherapy research. After careful consideration and understanding the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation we chose Dr. Carl June for his advancement in the immunotherapy realm of research. We are of the belief that immunotherapy treatments are less invasive and will be the future of successful treatments for blood cancer and other cancers. We are looking forward to the journey of what may resolve from this research grant and are so joyful to be a small part of his work! For those of you who are interested in the phase of research we have chosen, here's a little information on Dr. Carl June out of the University of Pennsylvania! Love, Jessica Cassidy Mrs. Michigan International 2015
CARL JUNE, MD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
The goal of this collaborative research team is to develop
chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T cells to treat leukemia and
lymphoma. The investigation consists of four synergistic projects.
Dr.
June and his LLS-funded team have made
significant advances, including immunotherapies that employ a patients' own
normal T cells genetically modifiedto
display a CAR molecule that targets CD19, a protein found on many lymphoid
cancers. CD19 CAR-T cells have achieved remissions for adults with chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and children with acute
lymphoid leukemia (ALL) who had not achieved stable remissions with
multiple standard therapies.
The
team is now working to discover antigens that can be recognized in
CD19-negative ALLs and other blood cancers, including lymphomas and acute
myeloid leukemia's. In addition, they are further improving CAR engineering and
delivery technologies, testing new CAR-T cells in appropriate animal models,
and beginning clinical testing of new strategies including ones that use
engineered T cells from donors.
Its not every day that your family receives a thank you note in the mail from the President and CEO of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Thank you Dr. DeGennaro for your support and recognition! We are looking forward to Dr. June's continued successes in finding better cures for blood cancer patients!
Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. International 2015
Today was our LTN Corporate Kick-off at the Gandy Dancer! What a great way to welcome new faces and provide information about LLS and how to get involved in our campaign to support blood cancer research!
I was asked to be the mission speaker by sharing my journey with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and why I continue to advocate and raise funds for their mission. I was so honored to be able to share my story and truly convey that LLS is family and because of their dedication to blood cancer research lives will be saved.
It's always a pleasure to get together with the Executive Committee for the Light the Night Campaign for LLS. We have a great group working to make the Ann Arbor event a memorable one. We are so excited to be able to host the LTN walk in A2 this year where much of the LLS funded blood cancer research takes place. This year we have decided on the University of Michigan North Campus Research
Campus (NCRC). Once the festivities to kick off the event we will be walking around the campus
where our donor dollars are at work!
NCRC is such a monumental place for our walk to take place in and around as there are a total of 13 LLS funded researchers at the University of Michigan all working to find better cures for blood cancer patients. This is the largest number of researchers concentrated in one area focused on blood cancer research across the country.
After discussing all of the logistics information, Adam Chiasson, Site Leader at BD Biosciences gave us a tour of the facilities where they construct the cytometers which are specifically used for blood cancer and then asked us to be celebrity judges for the derby car esthetics for their annual internal Derby Car Race! Thanks Adam!
So excited to be a part of an amazing organization and a great team!
Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015
What a nice surprise to receive in the mail today!
Recently our Madison Height Chapter was in search of a new Executive Director and after a long time searching they found an amazing Executive Director to head the Madison Heights Chapter. Even though we've spoke I haven't had the opportunity to meet him though I will be next week! In addition to reviewing the National pilot for Planned Giving we are developing that will roll out in September/October 2015, Kirk and I will have the privilege to sit down with him to take care of a VERY important item which I will post later about!
I am so thankful that we have an amazing ED that understands charitable planning and hope to learn from him to position the pilot appropriately for LLS donors! We re truly looking forward to working closely with Doug and are excited for what the future holds with our relationship and partnership with LLS!
I have to give my husband kudos for being such an amazing and thoughtful husband, father and human being. Not only does he coach our sons travel baseball team but he always makes sure that Samarra and I always feel special regardless of the countless hours of sports surrounding Trae.
For the last two years Kirk has brought home flowers for Samarra and I almost every week. Not a bouquet to share but specific bouquets selected for each of us. (On occasion he will have the assistance of our son Trae to weigh in on the selection.) Needless to say, after a long baseball tournament weekend he not only went to the grocery but he also brought Samarra and I home flowers. I received the most beautiful yellow roses and Samarra received beautiful daisy's.
The best lesson in all of this is that I appreciate him so much but most important, I appreciate him for teaching my son and daughter to cherish the people they love and that they are both cherished.
Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015
This Friday our family hosted a client appreciation event at UMMA (University of Michigan Museum of Modern Art). We had the event catered by an amazing little place out of Dexter, Michigan called Simply Scrumptious and the food was "Simply Scrumptious!" We also hired 4 piece Jazz Band from the Community High School Jazz Program that was better than most wedding bands I've heard; these young men were so talented at such a young age. We also brought in Mark Twain for some entertainment before we had the museum shut down for our viewing only.
It was nice that our son Trae took a private tour with our clients with the two docent's we procured. I received a delightful report that he asked many valid and interesting questions about each piece that was highlighted on the tour. I love that he is curious and comfortable enough to ask and enjoyed his time.
Samarra, our daughter was just as anxious to see all of the beautiful paintings and artifacts on display as she should have been as an inquisitive 4 year old little munchkin! I think her favorites were the Tiffany on display just for their name alone! LOL!
It was nice to peruse the museum at our own pace without any distractions. There were so many interesting and beautiful things to see. However, my favorites were the numerous Picasso's and the Monet that was on display. It isn't every day that you are able to enjoy such historical pieces of art!
It was such a joy to spend time with our family, extended family (our clients) and the amazing pieces of history on display. We are truly fortunate.
Not long ago I was asked how much I have raised for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society since I started working with them in 2010 to advocate for the cause and raise awareness. It made me go back and start to think and break it down. So for those of you who are interested , here is the breakdown. I may be missing a few dollars but you can get the jest of total dollars raised.
1. $750,000.00 bequest (in which this amount will be closer to $1 million when received by LLS).
2. $250,000.00 bequest
3. $62,127.00 in cash donations raised.
4. $5,000.00 committed cash donation, just need to collect the donation for LLS.
GRAND TOTAL: $1,067,127.00 and counting for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Love, Jessica Cassidy Mrs. Michigan International 2015
What an amazing honor to be listed with all of the Executive Challenge participants who raised over $5,000.00 each for the Executive Challenge for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Campaign!!!
I cannot wait to receive my Forbes plaque to put in my office!! Here's a sneak peak!!! (My lame is listed in the first column toward the bottom).
I mid-March I had the delight to travel to Dothan, AL to work with Clay, Terri and Joey @ Clay Spann! I was a bit nervous to work with their team but as soon as I arrived my nerves dissipated with the warm hug I received from Terri!
Terri quickly started arranging all of my clothing and jewelry so she and Clay could peruse through what would work best and quickly collaborated to come up with 4 fantastic looks!
Next I was treated like royalty in Clay's famous chair. If you think about it, every International Pageants title holder has sat in his chair and now I was there too! Clay and Terri quickly started their magic and we all chit chatted and laughed about Clay's story as the "snake slayer." Amongst other funny stories!
After hair and make-up was completed we quickly started shooting the four looks. I couldn't believe my eyes when I got a sneak peak at one of the photos, I started to tear up but kept my make-up in place! Whew!
After we completed I had an opportunity to quickly meet with Joey regarding wardrobe and was quickly on a plane back home!
Overall, I was so grateful the Clay Spann Team. They are brilliant at what they do and am so grateful for the amazing photos I have for myself and the Mrs. International pageant.
Thank you so much Clay, Terri and Joey!
Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015
It is with great delight that I am able to continue my scholarship support with the Josephine G. Cook Foundation! This year our specific contribution is going to an amazing young lady who has raised over $30,000.00 for St. Jude's, Courtney Critz.
Courtney is a young lady I met years ago through the International pageant system and have always had a special place in my heart for this bright young lady. This scholarship couldn't have gone to a better candidate.
Today was my youngest child's birthday! It amazes me how time has flown and the little tiny peanut she was is no longer. Though I miss my tiny little peanut, it is so exciting to see her grow and learn every day. She is becoming quite the character and is the sweetest cuddle bug I know.
Its not every day that your family receives a thank you note in the mail from the President and CEO of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Thank you Dr. DeGennaro for your support and recognition! We are looking forward to Dr. June's continued successes in finding better cures for blood cancer patients!
NCRC is such a monumental place for our walk to take place in and around as there are a total of 13 LLS funded researchers at the University of Michigan all working to find better cures for blood cancer patients. This is the largest number of researchers concentrated in one area focused on blood cancer research across the country.
NCRC is such a monumental place for our walk to take place in and around as there are a total of 13 LLS funded researchers at the University of Michigan all working to find better cures for blood cancer patients. This is the largest number of researchers concentrated in one area focused on blood cancer research across the country.
For the last two years Kirk has brought home flowers for Samarra and I almost every week. Not a bouquet to share but specific bouquets selected for each of us. (On occasion he will have the assistance of our son Trae to weigh in on the selection.) Needless to say, after a long baseball tournament weekend he not only went to the grocery but he also brought Samarra and I home flowers. I received the most beautiful yellow roses and Samarra received beautiful daisy's. 
This Friday our family hosted a client appreciation event at UMMA (University of Michigan Museum of Modern Art). We had the event catered by an amazing little place out of Dexter, Michigan called Simply Scrumptious and the food was "Simply Scrumptious!" We also hired 4 piece Jazz Band from the Community High School Jazz Program that was better than most wedding bands I've heard; these young men were so talented at such a young age. We also brought in Mark Twain for some entertainment before we had the museum shut down for our viewing only.
It was such a joy to spend time with our family, extended family (our clients) and the amazing pieces of history on display. We are truly fortunate.
I mid-March I had the delight to travel to Dothan, AL to work with Clay, Terri and Joey @ Clay Spann! I was a bit nervous to work with their team but as soon as I arrived my nerves dissipated with the warm hug I received from Terri!
After hair and make-up was completed we quickly started shooting the four looks. I couldn't believe my eyes when I got a sneak peak at one of the photos, I started to tear up but kept my make-up in place! Whew!