Grace Lutheran Church’s 16th Annual Fish Fry is ready to roll this Saturday, October 12 – Salisbury Post

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Part of Kassana’s care team at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte. Photo by Cathy Alexandre.

Cathy and Kassana Alexandre.

Kassana, in her room at Levine Children’s Hospital.

Kassana is undergoing one of her treatments at Levine Children’s Hospital.

Kassana Alexander was a normal five-year-old girl at the start of this year. Her favorite activities were gymnastics, her dolls, playing outside with her brothers Chase and Chance, and making slime. Suddenly, she began to have a fever, severe hip pain and was unable to walk. Grandma Quovadis, herself a registered nurse, noticed swollen lymph nodes.

Mom Cathy took Kassana to Atrium Hospital in Concord on Jan. 24, hoping to get answers. Cathy said: “We stayed all day while staff carried out tests and checked the numbers. Then, suddenly, we were sent to Levine Children’s Hospital, where further tests confirmed leukemia, a blood cancer.

Admitted immediately, Kassana’s care team got to work and immediately installed a port in her chest for medication needs. They provided information on how the treatment would work as it rapidly scaled up. Kassana stayed with Levine for a week while pills, blood, platelets and other transfusions were administered. The daily injections into Kassana’s leg using a very large needle were the most painful during the hospitalization. Both mother and daughter dreaded these blows. Once they return home, she and Cathy still have to come back three days a week, about four hours each time and that always includes those same shots. Kassana also undergoes chemotherapy every week and a lumbar puncture every two weeks.

Cathy and Quovadis share childcare responsibilities and, until recently, they both had to share a car for all trips to the hospital and work. Cathy described the arrangement as a “real mess.” She said, “My employer, Metro T-Mobile, has been great to us. I used to work up to 60 hours a week as a single mom to support the family, but now they let me work whenever I can, probably averaging 15-20 hours. My mother’s employer, Dr. Shareef at Rocky River Pediatrics, was also very understanding. Mom helped me so much, she says I just had them, but they are her babies!

Kassana and her family will be the beneficiaries of all proceeds raised at the Grace Lutheran Church Fish Fry on Saturday, Oct. 12, one of the largest fundraisers in the county. The Alexander family already goes to church and will all be at the fish fry to meet the attendees.

Fish will be available for dine-in, takeout and drive-thru from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 3020 Grace Church Road, Salisbury. A shuttle service to the parking lot will be provided. A Gator and basket drawing, as well as a 50/50 drawing will all be completed around 8 p.m.

Fish plates will include fish, fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw and dessert, all for $15. A $7 kids’ plate includes fish or a hot dog. Drinks are included for dinner only.

Dan Roseman led the committee that chose this year’s recipient. He said: “Kassana’s story resonated with our committee since we had a previous candidate with a similar diagnosis. We knew the challenges the family faced. Ultimately, we feel led by the Spirit and pray for all candidates, then trust in the Lord’s leading.

Cathy Alexander said, “As a family, we would like to thank Grace Lutheran Church for such a warm welcome. We know they had many choices for recipients, but only God led them to choose our little Kassana. My mother and I have always been donors, so we are very grateful and honored that they see fit to give to us. We are growing as a family in faith, and we owe it to the congregation at Grace Lutheran and its wonderful pastor. Our hopes and prayers include continuing to thrive as a family, beating this cancer, and becoming the best family of faith that God allows us to be. We can’t say enough about Grace Lutheran, but we plan to continue our Sunday visits and hopefully one day join this wonderful church. Visiting them always feels like home.

As the long-time main organizer of the fish fry, Mike Yost looks forward to another rewarding event. He said: “We have a very deserving recipient. I hope people will get to know her and help us bring more blessings to their families. Our church gathers every year for this wonderful event, and as the saying goes, “It is all the work of God and our hands.” »

Cathy is not surprised that Kassana, now six years old, has been very strong and courageous through it all. She lost her hair, but she said, “Don’t be sad, mom, it’s just hair and it’s going to grow back so beautifully!”

It’s a long road ahead, though, as doctors expect treatments to continue through 2026. Call Yost with questions or to make a donation at 704-213-1262.