Cards and well wishes for Cassie may be sent to her on facebook or.... US mail address is;

Cassondra Drum

7192 Snyder Road

Cassie updates...

This has always been a site about Kyle's racing career etc and it still is. To be successful it is important to have a great  and family around you. Kyle has had that. One of his biggest supporter and fans is his sister Cassie. Cassie has not only been with Kyle at 90% of his races but she has been a big part of the team working on the car, helping with marketing, etc. Cassie IS part of Drum Morotsports and a part of Kyle's racing career. It has been a big part of her life. She is now facing some big health issues. I will keep the world up date via this site. Thanks. Carl/Dad

CASSIE UPDATE 8/15

Cassie will undergo chemo again on Tuesday.... four and counting. She will finish treatments by the end of September. Her spirits are very good, her weight has stabilized, and she is looking forward to getting back to living her life. She is getting stronger as time passes and her spinal column is healing, both of these will take time.

She is looking forward to substitute teaching at Avoca School again this year. In the mean time she is taking it all a day at a time, spending time with Grandpa Fairbrother and Grandma Drum.... visiting her sisters and nephews and niece....

CASSIE UPDATE 7/31

Cassie is doing better every week. She had a second bone treatment this past Tuesday and seemed to be fine after it. She is down to five more chemo treatments with one coming up this next Tuesday.

Cassie Update 7/21

Cassie had chemo yesterday.... 5 sessions to go! She is feeling pretty good, still no more weight gain but no one is concern, except me... I wish she would gain about 10 more pounds... Next week she goes back for another bone treatment session. Hope this one won't make her sick like the last....

CASSIE UPDATE 7/17

Cassie had a rather uneventful week.... I guess that's a good thing... She is doing fine and is now totally off her pain medications.... might add, with now problems. Next up for Cassie is chemo on Tuesday...

CASSIE UPDATE 7/3

Cassie received a bone treatment this past Tuesday that is to enhance the bone growth. She was told it would probably make her sick with flue like symptoms. They were right, she was sick for a couple days.

Last night she went to Little Valley to watch Kyle race. She saw a lot of people that she know from the racing world. This did her a lot of good. Chemo again on Tuesday.

TOTAL REMISSION!!!!

SEVEN MORE TREATMENTS AND DONE!!!!

 JUST GOT A CALL FROM CASSIE 10:30 am 6/22

Cassie Update 6/27

What a good week it was. The news of remission could not have been better. Everyone's  positive thoughts and prayers plus Cassie's positive attitude is paying off. She still has to go for 7 more chemo treatments plus some bone treatments to enhance bone growth. The goal is to not do back surgery. The bones are growing back and the back bone should continue to straighten itself out as time progresses.

Thanks to ALL for your support, thoughts, and prayers. Thanks to ALL who have helped in any way, transportation to the hospital, gas cards, food, cards, visits, and phone calls. Though the adventure is not complete Casie is through the storm..... Thanks to all.....

Cassie Update 6/18

Cassie had the PET test this past week. She will have the results on Monday. This will confirm the cancer is in remission. She is getting around and getting stronger as time goes on. Cassie know her limits and doesn't push beyond what she knows she can do.

Next week... chemo on Tuesday.....

Cassie Update 6/11

Went to the races last night.... It was great to see her back in her comfort zone. She did not go pit side but took her chiar and pillows, armed with her clip board and stop watch, and sat on turn four with Mom. Today she is going to cousin Meg's wedding....

We are all looking forward to the PET test this next week that will confirm that the cancer is in remission.... keep those prayers and good thoughts coming.....

Cassie Update 6/8

Cassie has chemo today. Her right hand has swollen for some reason so they had to do an ultrasound to make sure there were no blood clots. No clots were found so it was treatment as usual. Cassie discussed the PET test with her doctor once again. This test will be done next week with the results coming the following Monday. This is the test that will confirm the cancer is in remission... or not. All signs point to remission. If not the treatment will be changed to a more harsh, aggressive treatment.

Cassie had a great weekend having attended her cousin Lynsey's wedding reception on Saturday. It was good to see here out and about. She is planning on attending her brothers race this Friday night, though she will not be in the pit area she will be at the track.

Cassie Update 5/30...

It was a good week for Cassie. With the news of bone growth on Monday and positive remarks at chemo on Tuesday. She is feeling much better, eating very well, gaining weight, and looks to have this thing well in hand. We will get real confirmation on remission when the PET test is done on June 15th. This will confirm what all indications are telling us. Needless to say it has been a long trying past couple months. Next chemo is scheduled for June 8th.

Cassie was given permission to drive but to use her good judgement as she is the only one who really knows how she is feeling and reacting to the meds. She is getting out and about more but still needs to be careful to not get sick since her immune system is not what is should be....

Cassie Update 5/24....

Great news today! Cassie met with the surgeon to discuss her back. They took x rays and compared them to the ones from a month or more ago.. the bones are growing back! This means there is a good chance she will NOT have to have surgery. By deduction.... bones are NOT being eaten away but growing... chemo is working.... Cassie has gained another six pounds as well. The pain in her hip area is a fractured rib that is growing back as well. The hip showed deterioration but apparently look good now. She was told to keep drinking the milk she has always loved and get lots of sunshine. So... Steve... more boat rides I guess.....

Cassie Update 5/21

Lookin good. Thursday Cassie and Mom went visiting family and friends. Friday the went out on Keuka Lake compliments of our good friend Steve Kellogg. They had a great time and Cassie is feeling very good. Today is a family barbecue day....

Mom is going back to Virginia on Sunday. She has been here since this all started. Cassie will make chemo treatments with the help of family and friends... and Brian who has not left her side.

Cassie Update 5/15

UP and around seems to be doing fine, eating, cooking, and walking around. Hip is still a little painful but she is dealing with it with the help of over the counter medications. She is slowly coming off the pain patch she has been using.

Cassie Update 5/13

Cassie seems to be feeling and doing much better. Yesterday Cassie and Mom went for a ride and a couple visits... no nap, and .... eating.... Today was a day of rest, tomorrow some errands. It will be a few more weeks before the tests are done to check on the progress of the chemo but all signs are pointing to it working.

Cassie Update 5/11

Cassie had her second chemo treatment today. Her weigh in showed she had gained 4 lbs. since last Thursday.... This is great! She needs to go back to Strong Tuesday to have a "port" installed. This is a valve of sorts that they can draw blood through so they don't have to keep drawing from a vein in her arm. On the way home she made a couple stops and actually did a  lot of walking today. Appetite is good. Hoping this continues.

Cassie Update 5/8

Cassie is feeling much better today. The PM she is up and around helping make a batch of potato soup.... from scratch. She is a FANTASTIC cook and loves to do it and some of us love to eat so the combination works great. She's eating a little better, pain pretty much gone, and it's good to hear her laughing again.... something that has been missing for weeks.

Tuesday is the next chemo treatment. The first went well so we are hoping the rest wil go as well.

Cassie Update 5/6

Cassie had a doctor's visit today at Strong. Without doing any official testing it appears that the chemo is working. This is based on several things such as Cassie walking into the hospital, eating regular meals now, and back pain pretty much gone. She is still experiencing hip pain but she is dealing with it. She still wears the mild pain patch but does not need the high powered stuff. She is tired out tonight from all the moving around etc but .....Great news....

Cassie Update 5/4

Seems to be feeling much better. Up and walking around every hour or so, eating regularly and keeping it done, and staying ahead of the pain. Gave me a hard time today about going to bed early so I know she is feeling better... so... Dr. visit this Thursday to check on things, then chemo again next week.

Cassie Update 5/3

It's been a couple days since an update so... The weekend was busy with visitors but Cassie was not in the best shape with sore hips and not being able to keep food down. Today however, she was up walking around the house doing laps and has been able to keep three small meals down. That's progress. I know she's feeling better because she corrected me on the phone tonight....

Cassie Update 4/30

Cassie is feeling much better. The pain is all but gone and she is only using the mild patch. Looking forward to next Thursday's visit when the Doctors will evaluate the treatments.

Cassie Update 4/29

A good day today.... relatively pain free and moving about much easier. Cassie is resting comfortably. It appears the chemo did not have any real bad side effects... thank goodness.

Cassie Update 4/28

Cassie had her first chemo treatment today. The doctors are very high on being able to beat this thing. She had more blood work and bone marrow sampling done. Cassie felt fine after the treatment in-fact she is getting around pretty good right now. She slept good last night which I'm sure helped tremendously. She needs to go back next Thursday for a check up on the treatment. The following week its round two for treatment.

Cassie update 4/27

We met with the doctors today. Here's the diagnosis... Cassie has Hodgkin Lymphoma. This is a cancer of the lymph system and it settled in her back bone and has started doing damage to some other bones like her one hip. If you had to have a cancer this is the one to have because it can be cured. Cassie starts chemo tomorrow and will receive it once every two weeks for the next six months. They will discuss tomorrow the plans for fixing her back. Today she had to go through some more test and was hurting real back by the time we got home.

Cassie Update 4/25...

Sunday's was a day for family and friends as many stopped by. Cassie spent the day watching two NASCAR races, the Braves/Mets, game and the the Jazz/Nuggets basketball game.... loves her sports... off to the hospital in the AM to discuss treatments and back repairs...

Cassie Update 4/25

Saturday was a restful day. Cassie was up and around some but spent most of the day sitting up n the hospital bed. Her pain is still intense at times depending on movement. She is eating OK but wishing she would eat more. Pain meds kind of kill the appetite.

Cassie Update 4/22...

Cassie is HOME! She was discharged this PM. The results for the last of the cancer test will be back Monday. Then... the next steps will be discussed. It's frustrating because it's been over a week and we don't know what the problem is thus we don't know if the deterioration has stopped, can't believe it has, nothing has been done to stop it.

She is in the brace, can walk and sit, thanks to the Cohocton Lions Club for the loan of a hospital bed. This will help greatly. She will be having to go back in some time soon.

Cassie Update 4/21.....

Cassie had surgery this PM to remove three lymph nodes to complete the test procedures. She is sore but resting fine, going to watch the baseball game on ESPN tonight....

Cassie update 4/16/10

Today was a good day. Even though the test results from the biopsy won't be back until Monday or Tuesday at the very latest. The doctors have ruled out a couple cancers. The list is getting shorter. The test run to-date have NOT shown anything out of the ordinary.... all organs are in great shape, blood work done many ways is good, and body scan did not come up with much of anything. Cassie was visually relieved when told about the items ruled out.... actually we all were...

The back/body brace was fitted and Cassie can now get out of bed.... she is actually wearing cloths and is feeling more like a human being again. She is on line and on her phone talking with family and friends. Her appetite is coming back as she is eating more solid foods. The pain meds have been cut back as well. Needless to say her spirits are much better.

You may reach Cassie throu facebook if you so desire.