Casandra’s Story

Site created on July 8, 2020

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


As many of you have heard Casandra had surgery at St. Mary's Rochester, MN on June 15th.  At that time the surgeons removed her spleen, gallbladder, uterus and ovaries.  During the surgery the surgeons completed a "hot chemo" which spreads chemotherapy  gently around the abdomen for 90 minutes.  She was in the hospital for a week and was dismissed the following Monday.  Casandra and Natalie then stayed at n air BnB in Rochester for the next 7 days.  However, on the day of dismissal, both of them contacted the covid virus.  Natalie was tested on Tuesday, with a positive return on Thursday and Casandra's test on Thursday came back positive the next day.  During this time they both had minimal symptoms with a fever,  sneezing, headache and loss of sense and taste.  After a weeks time, Natalie brought Casandra back to her home in Minneapolis for a week to recuperate.  On Friday of last week, CC started running a higher fever and Natalie brought her to a hospital in Minneapolis.  After tests and blood work and conferring with Mayo's drs,  CC was transferred back to Rochester by ambulance.  As her 10 day self isolation wasn't over, she was admitted to the covid unit at the hospital.  Consequently not even her primary caregiver, Natalie could be with her in the hospital.  Casandra continued to have a fever and pain, and after many blood tests and scans the surgeons decided they needed to operate last evening.  They did find a small dime size hole in her stomach, but because of a decrease in her vital signs they weren't able to finish the surgery.  She has a G tube in her stomach, a J-tube in her jejunum, a foley catheter and is on a respirator.  They are keeping her sedated until more surgery will be completed tomorrow.  Her blood counts are still above normal, but have come down some.  She did receive several units of blood and plasma today.  She is in stable, but very critical condition.  
We ask you keep Casandra and her surgeons and doctors in your prayers.  Thank you

Newest Update

September 29, 2020

Journal entry by Natalie Lenz —

Things are going well in Rochester for Casandra. Over the weekend she was able to begin drinking and eating again and all is going well. Things are going so well that she is now off her TPN and is just having some supplemental nutrition shakes through her G-tube into her small intestine. Looks as if she may get out tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. And she will be going home to Rolfe, Iowa. Brother Troy is picking her up from Rochester and bringing her home where she will be reunited with her four-legged friends. She is so excited to see her dog Lucy who she hasn’t seen since June 13 when she was last home. Way to go Casandra! Rockstar all the way around; now she’s going to rockstar it out at home in Rolfe, Iowa! We love you Casandra!
Read More of the journal titled "September 29, 2020"
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