Cass' life changed rapidly after her first CT scan. She was immediately sent for an MRI and then asked to return to her GP surgery that same day. The next day, she saw a neurosurgeon and within a week underwent brain surgery. The diagnosis was an extensive diffuse Astrocytoma, which is a slow-growing form of brain tumour.

Cass faced a difficult journey of diagnosis and treatments ahead. She underwent surgery, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, and numerous MRIs and PET scans. While the future looked strikingly different to anything previously imagined, Cass remained hopeful and always believed that there was still a life to be lived, a family to be loved, children to be taught, and
a community to be a part of.

Cass dedicated her time to raising awareness about brain cancer when she could no longer work. Her family and friends joined her in fundraising events like the Walk4Cancer, City2Surf in Sydney, Point to Pinnacle in Hobart and her most ambitious achievement completing the Big Three Trek from Newcastle to Sydney for the Mark Hughes Foundation. Cass sold water bottles, coffee cups and
t-shirts to raise funds for a brain cancer research however, she wanted to do more to help patients with brain cancer, so she enlisted the help of her friend, Ana to help build The Survivorship Diary.

Together Cass and Ana have built this diary to help patients and their families manage the various stages of treatment and to assist the many questions and challenges patients have as they navigate treatment and learn to live with the disease.

On Saturday 27th of May 2023 Cass lost her battle with brain cancer.
Cass cherished her family, friends and her desire to teach her children what it means to be a good human. Cass' involvement in the brain cancer community will continue to inspire and impact the lives of many.

Ana's tribute to Cass

Cass was an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing her; she was full of life and love, and I'm incredibly grateful for the times we shared. With a bright spirit, Cass always took on the world with a can-do attitude.

Cass and I met through my husband Steve, and coincidently so did Cass and Dan. Steve and I had only been dating briefly when I got Cass's big sister chat on a night out The extent of our conversation in a crowded bar over 10 years ago may be fuzzy, but these words will never leave me - Welcome to the team Ana...  

Cass was a very caring person who always put others before herself. Despite her diagnosis, Cass remained active and focused on helping others throughout her illness. Even in her last days, she would check in on the nurses and physio, asking if they needed anything and offering them tea or coffee. Cass possessed an excellent combination of selflessness and determination in her nature.

Given our different backgrounds, Cass in the corporate world and myself in a creative field, I never would have imagined we would work together. However, all that changed in 2019 when I got a call from Cass saying so; I know you're on mat leave, but I have an idea. Do you feel like doing some design work for me? (My son was 3 weeks old). But of course, it was a yes from me, and so our journey to create what is now Cass' legacy began.

Cass was, in her words, "The Business" of brain cancer...  Every word poured into this resource comes straight from her heart, and she took great care to ensure that the information provided to patients and their families is accurate and safe. She dedicated her time reading medical journals and researching global treatments while also seeking out medical professionals to ask questions on behalf of other patients for the Diary.

Cass even walked 150 km from Newcastle to Sydney to raise funds for a foundation that now plays an essential role in the successful distribution of The Survivorship Diaries nationwide - all while going through treatment herself. Cass created an excellent guide for individuals who are newly diagnosed with brain cancer. and the Survivorship Diary is now in its 3rd print run, meaning that over 2000 patients and their families around Australia have been gifted a copy to help them navigate this devastating disease.

Despite facing challenges such as Cass undergoing chemo and me having a toddler and newborn, we began developing the Survivorship Diary in late 2019. However, we were soon confronted with the additional obstacle of a worldwide pandemic. Despite this setback, Cass remained positive and saw it as a opportunity to dedicate more time to the Diary. Over the course of two years, we persevered through lockdowns and countless hours of Facetime while receiving outstanding assistance and support from our family, friends. Thanks to these efforts, we were able to bring Cass's Survivorship Diary dream to fruition.

Cass always said Ana, if it wasn't for you, the Survivorship Diary would be an ugly Excel spreadsheet on my computer. But in all reality, if it wasn't for your great determination, strength and beautiful ability to network and fundraise for what you believed in, The Survivorship Diary would still be a PDF on my computer.

We experienced many significant milestones in life together, including weddings and the birth of our beautiful children. However, the change we made together for the brain cancer community is one of the most meaningful to me. I promise to uphold your legacy of the Survivorship Diary and strive to bring greater awareness to this cause, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

xx ana