Cassandra has had RSD/CRPS for 24 years. Yet it doesn't stop us from participating in the Renaissance Festival and Faire communities and the Pirate Community. Reenactments and fun. Phelan has been apart of the same communities since 2006 after she asked him to. He's been helping her battle ever since. So has our daughter, Nancy and our friend Meg.

"I have RSD/CRPS. Also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. The most painful form of chronic pain known to mankind. So much so that its nicknamed the Suicide Disease because we have very little awareness, almost no treatments and no cure. Its also terminal. (It gets into your organs and ends up constricting the blood flow to them and kills them)

Its a Neurological Condition, and autoimmune disorder, that I've had 24 years as of the first week of August. . Progressive. It started in my right arm, shoulder and hand. It then spread to my waist to my toes, and then to the rest of my body. I am in a wheelchair about 75% of the time now, with AFOs and other braces. I also have a huge stack of other health problems including Gastroparesis, Disc Degenerative Disease, Small Fiber Neuropathy, and at least 2 other autoimmune disorders, but its the RSD/CRPS that is the main issue that I fight day in and day out.

I am not posting this for donations. I am posting the link for awareness. I'm a very firm believer that with awareness comes hope. And there are days I wake up and I don't have any hope. I'm in so much pain, and very little that I can do about it. I also believe that if one has support, they are never truly without hope. 

People ask me why do I continue to do Pirating, Renaissance Festivals and other events if it costs me a week or 2 in bed after. Because it makes my soul feel good. Because it gets me out with my friends and I have FUN! For that little bit of time, I'm not a crippled gimp. I'm just another person having fun. Showing kids that just because I'm a little different (like my wheelchair) it doesn't stop me from doing what I want to do.

I guess, if any of you have any questions about what I have or go through, please feel free to ask. Yes, we are the ones in the photos on the main event page. I have awareness bracelets so please feel free to mention you saw us on the main page and I'll give you one.

I apologize if none of this makes any sense. I'm not used to making posts like this. But.... I really need the support. Not the financial part. The emotional support and understanding that I want to go places and do things, but I can't always do them. We try to do as much as possible. 

-Cassandra"