Cassidy wants people to know her as someone who looks on the bright side and stays positive. That’s a radically different description of how anyone would characterize her earlier life.

The specifics are almost too many and too graphic to list. Born prematurely, Cassidy began her fragile, tentative life with multiple, complicated surgeries resulting from Conradi Hunermann Syndrome, a form of dwarfism which only affects one side of the body.

Specialists had to make several dozen surgical repairs affecting her eyes, legs, and her tiny spine, including body casts and traction all before she was even six-years old. The details are enough to make anyone shudder.

Now as a teenager, Cassidy is living in Arizona with her mom. She likes fashion and glitz, looking pretty, and taking selfies, as do most teens. She has said she might want to study medicine, but also loves the fashion world and leans in that direction as well.

Fun things to know about Cassidy:

• Through it all Cassidy continues to be positive, engaging, and upbeat
• If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, some days she says she wants to be a pediatrician, but most days she wants to design fashionable clothing for little people of all shapes and sizes
• She enjoys looking her best while singing

Why I am thankful for the Courageous Faces Foundation:

I am now part of a whole new “Foundation Family” plus I’ve gotten to meet a lot of new friends at our Galas and Foundation events.

I feel more people care for me. They’ve helped make my life more fun and given me trips to look forward too, including my first LPA Convention. 

Courageous Faces makes me realize I’ll never face new challenges alone. I’ve also been able to do things I wouldn’t have otherwise experienced.

It’s a foundation that has helped me see I’m not alone when I’m facing challenges related to my conditions, or as we call it, different ability.