Find answers to common questions about Cosmic Cassy
Cosmic Cassy is a community-driven platform built by families, for families fighting childhood cancer. We provide hope, practical help, and a space to share your story. What makes us different is that we rely on YOU. Parents, survivors, and supporters help us build the most comprehensive resource directory possible. One person cannot know every helpful resource in every city and state, but together we can.
Yes. Completely free. Forever. We built this because we needed it when our daughter Cassy was diagnosed with leukemia. Every family fighting childhood cancer deserves access to helpful tools without worrying about cost.
This site is for every family navigating childhood cancer. Whether you just got the diagnosis or you are years into it, you are welcome here.
You can browse the site without an account. Anyone can read blog posts and explore resources freely. Creating an account takes about 2 minutes and is completely free.An account unlocks these features
Click Sign Up in the top right corner, fill out the registration form, and verify your email. That is it.
Email verification helps us keep the community safe and makes sure you can reset your password if needed. We only send account-related emails like verification, password resets, and notifications you choose to receive.
So we can show you resources that are actually available in YOUR area. A support group in California will not help a family in South Carolina. By knowing your state we filter out the noise and show you what is relevant. You will still see all national and core resources, but you will also see state-specific help that other families in your state have found useful. This is optional. You can skip it if you prefer.
Click Login then Forgot Password. Enter your email and we will send you a reset link. The link expires in 1 hour for security.
Yes. We take security seriously. No system is 100% secure and we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we do everything in our power to protect your information. If you ever have a security concern please contact us immediately.
Contact us and we will delete your account and all associated data within 48 hours. Important: Published posts and comments will remain on the site unless you request removal before deleting your account.
Create a free account, then click Share Post in the navigation menu. Write your post, add a title, and submit. Sandra reviews every submission personally to make sure it fits our community. Most posts are reviewed within 5 to 7 days.
We know how hard it can be to find words during the hardest moments of your life. Our AI Writing Assistant helps you write blog posts, journal entries, or stories about your journey. It remembers your conversation so you can refine your writing step by step. Think of it as a compassionate writing partner who is always available. Access it when writing a post from your dashboard. Important: AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies. Always review and edit AI suggestions before publishing.It can help you
We review every submission for quality and relevance to childhood cancer. If your post fits our community guidelines it will be published. If not, we will let you know why.
Yes. When submitting your post you can choose to display your name or submit anonymously. Either way is fine. Your story matters regardless of whether your name is attached to it.
Right now editing after publication is not available through the site. If you need something changed contact us and we will help.
Blog posts come from two sources. Read them all on the blog.
No. User-submitted stories and blog posts are NOT reviewed or verified by medical professionals. They represent personal experiences and opinions, not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions. Do not rely on user stories or blog posts as a substitute for professional medical advice.
We are actively building tools designed to solve real problems families face during treatment. Every tool we create addresses something we struggled with ourselves or heard directly from other families. If you have ideas for tools that would help you, please let us know. We build what families actually need. Check out what is currently available on the tools page.
Important Disclaimer: All tools on Cosmic Cassy provide estimates and general guidance ONLY. They are NOT a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always verify information with qualified professionals before making any important decisions. We do our best to keep information current but cannot guarantee accuracy or completeness.Examples of tool limitations
Medical Disclaimer: The medication tracker is for YOUR personal record-keeping only. It is NOT medical advice and is NOT reviewed by medical professionals. The tracker is a helpful organizational tool, but your medical team's guidance always takes priority.
Some tools use artificial intelligence to provide personalized recommendations or process data. When AI is used we clearly indicate it. AI Disclaimer: AI-generated content and recommendations are automated and may contain errors, inaccuracies, or outdated information. AI cannot replace human judgment or professional expertise. Always verify AI-generated information with qualified professionals. You can opt out of AI-enhanced features in your account settings under Privacy Preferences.
Please report it immediately so we can fix it. While we work hard to keep tools accurate errors can happen. We are not liable for decisions made based on tool outputs, but we take reports seriously and will investigate and correct issues as quickly as possible. See our Terms of Service for full details about tool limitations and liability.
Yes. Most tools allow you to export your data as PDF or CSV files for your records or to share with your medical team. Important: Exported data is for YOUR personal use only. Do not share exported data publicly without removing personal information.
When you delete your account all your tool data is permanently deleted within 48 hours. This includes medications, tracking data, calculations, and anything else you entered. We recommend exporting any data you want to keep before deleting your account. Once deleted we cannot recover it.
Cosmic Cassy Resources is a living community hub built specifically for childhood cancer families. Think of it the way you think about Wikipedia or Reddit, but with one purpose only: making sure no family has to search alone for the help they need. Every resource in this directory was found by someone who has been in your shoes. It might be a family who shared what helped them, our team who researches continuously, or our AI agent that surfaces programs most people would never find on their own. What makes this directory truly different is that the community keeps it alive and accurate over time. Every single one of those actions makes the directory smarter and more accurate for the next family who arrives here scared and searching for answers. No family should discover a resource too late. That is exactly why we built this.How the community keeps it accurate
First, breathe. You are not alone. There is no wrong place to start. Just start somewhere.Here is where to begin
Every resource, whether discovered by our team or submitted by a community member, first passes through our AI agent. This is not a basic check. The agent runs multiple strict automated steps covering legitimacy, active status, contact accuracy, eligibility requirements, categorization, and more. If a resource fails any single step it does not move forward. It gets rejected. A resource has to earn its place in this directory just to appear in the list at all. On top of the AI vetting, our team personally reviews resources before they go live. We visit the website, confirm contact information is accurate, and check that the organization is actively helping families today. We also attempt to verify phone numbers directly. Resources that pass this human layer earn a Verified badge. The community adds a third layer that never stops. Helpful votes, comments from parents who used the resource, and problem reports help us catch anything that changes over time. If a phone number goes dead or a program closes its doors, families let us know and we act within 48 hours. Important: We are an informational directory, not an endorsement service. Always verify any resource independently before sharing personal information or submitting an application.Step 1: Rigorous AI Agent Vetting
Step 2: Personal Human Review
Step 3: Ongoing Community Verification
Yes. This is one of our most important rules and it is non-negotiable. Every single resource listed on Cosmic Cassy must be completely free for families to use. Our AI agent checks this as part of its vetting process. No resource that charges families passes our review. If you ever find a resource in our directory that is charging families please use the Report a Problem button immediately so we can investigate and remove it.
Each badge represents a level of trust that builds on the one before it. A resource without a badge is not a red flag. It simply means it passed our AI agent vetting to get into the directory but has not yet received a full personal human review. A member of our team personally reviewed this resource. We visited the website, confirmed the contact details are accurate, and checked that the organization is actively helping families right now. This organization has a strong track record and is considered especially valuable for childhood cancer families. It goes a step beyond Verified in terms of impact and reliability. Reserved only for the most widely recognized and nationally trusted organizations in the childhood cancer space. These are the resources every family should know about regardless of where they live. Very few resources reach this level. You can filter the directory to show only Verified, Featured, or Essential resources using the toggles on the resources page.Verified (checkmark)
Featured (star)
Essential (sun)
Pending Review means a resource has been submitted to the directory and is waiting to go through our vetting process. It is not visible to families yet. Resources in Pending Review are never shown to families. You will only ever see resources that have already cleared our full vetting process. The Pending Review count you may see on our stats reflects how many submissions are currently working through that pipeline, which is a sign the directory is actively growing.How it works
Resources enter the directory through two paths. Our team actively searches for childhood cancer resources using our AI agent. The agent processes resources in batches, running every candidate through a rigorous multi-step vetting process. Resources that pass move to human review. Resources that fail are rejected. Families, hospital social workers, and supporters submit resources they have personally used and found helpful. Every community submission goes through the exact same AI agent vetting process as resources found by our team. There are no shortcuts. We deliberately publish a small number of carefully vetted resources at a time. We would rather have 200 resources that families can actually trust than 2,000 that nobody has checked. Every resource in this directory earned its place.Found by our team
Submitted by the community
Quality over quantity
It means the resource is newer to the directory or is still working through our personal human review process. It does not mean something is wrong with it. Every resource you see in this directory, badge or no badge, already passed our AI agent vetting process just to get listed. That is a meaningful quality bar on its own. The badges represent an additional layer of trust added through personal human review over time. If you ever have a concern about a specific resource, use the Report a Problem button on that resource page and our team will look into it right away.
Completely free. No catch. This is families helping families. We built this because we know how overwhelming it is to search for help when your child is sick. You should not have to pay for a list of resources.
The search bar is your main tool — describe what you need in plain language and the AI does the rest. The filters help narrow the location context for your results. You do not need to select a category manually. Just describe what you need — "help with rent", "someone to talk to", "rides to treatment" — and the AI figures out the right category for you. The more specific your search, the better the results. "Financial help for cancer families in Charlotte NC" will return sharper results than just "financial help."Filter by location
No category filter needed
Tip
The search bar on the resources page is smarter than a typical keyword search. You do not need to know the exact name of an organization or pick the right category. Just describe what you need in plain language. The system understands what you are describing and finds resources that match what you actually need, not just resources that contain those exact words. If you are logged in, your state is applied automatically. Local and state resources relevant to you will appear alongside national resources. If you are not logged in, you can select your state using the filter at the top of the page. Tip: The more specific your search, the better your results. "Financial help for cancer families in Charlotte NC" will return sharper results than just "financial help."Examples of how to search
Your location matters
Try selecting just your state without a city. You will see state-wide resources that serve your entire state. Also check the National Resources section. Many organizations help families regardless of where they live. If you know of a local resource that is missing, please submit it on the resources page. That is how we grow, one family helping the next.
Anyone. If you found a charity that paid your electric bill, a church that provided meals, or a local counselor who helped your family, share it. Other families in your area need to know. Click Submit Resource on the resources page and tell us what helped you. Our team will put it through the same vetting process every resource goes through, and if it passes it will be added to the directory.
Constantly. This is a living directory that improves every single day.
Every resource passes our AI agent vetting process and a human review before going live. But we are an informational directory, not an endorsement service and not a guarantee. Always verify any resource independently, check their specific eligibility requirements, and make sure it is a good fit for your situation. Think of us as the most reliable starting point you can find, but not the final word.
Report it using the Report a Problem button on any resource page. You can flag it as one of the following Our team gets notified immediately and will review and fix it within 48 hours. This is how we keep the directory accurate and it only happens because families like you take the time to report.
When you click Mark as Helpful on a resource you are telling every family who comes after you that this one actually worked. Those votes accumulate and help surface the most trusted resources. It takes one second and makes a real difference for the next parent who finds that page at 2am wondering if this organization is worth reaching out to.
Yes. Every resource has its own Discussion section where the community can talk directly about that organization. This is one of the most powerful parts of the directory. A parent commenting that they called and got help within a week, or describing exactly what the application process was like, gives the next family information that no database entry can provide. You need a free account to participate in discussions.What you can do in a discussion
Most resource lists are outdated PDFs that nobody maintains. Cosmic Cassy is something completely different. This is a living hub, not a static list. Every parent who uses it and contributes to it is helping the family that comes after them.What sets us apart
This is a community effort and everyone plays a part. We are not a big corporation or a faceless nonprofit. We are real people who understand exactly what you are going through.
When a family uses a resource and it actually helps them, they can vote it as helpful. More votes means more families found it useful in the real world. It is how you can tell which resources are actually making a difference versus ones that just sound good on paper. Real feedback from real families who have been through it.
Please do. That is the whole point. The more families who know about this, the more people we can help. And the more people who contribute, the better it gets for everyone who comes after them.
You contribute just by using the platform. Here is how every action helps Every one of those actions helps the next family who arrives here scared and searching for answers.
Cosmic Cassy provides this resource directory for informational purposes only. We do not endorse, guarantee, or verify the services of any listed organization. Resources are compiled from community submissions, team research, and AI-assisted discovery. All resources go through review before publication, but we cannot guarantee accuracy, availability, or quality of services at all times. Always verify resources independently and use your own judgment. Cosmic Cassy is not responsible for services provided by listed organizations. By using this directory you agree to verify all information independently before relying on it. See our Terms of Service for full legal details.
We collect only what is necessary to make the site work. Read our full privacy policy for complete details.
No. Absolutely not. We will never sell, rent, or share your data with third parties for marketing or profit. Your information is yours.
No. There are no ads on Cosmic Cassy. We do not make money from this site. We pay to keep it running.
Only you can see your private data like medications and account details. Published posts and blog comments are public, but you control what you share. Our team has access to the database for maintenance and support purposes only. We do not look at your private data unless you ask us to help with something specific.
Yes, but only essential cookies. We do not use tracking cookies or advertising cookies of any kind.
No. Our AI is used exclusively to help discover and vet resources for the directory. It does NOT process your personal data. The only thing our AI does is help find and evaluate potential resources to add to the directory, which our team then reviews before anything goes live.
Our AI agent helps find and process childhood cancer resources that families might never discover on their own. It surfaces things like local charities, grant programs, support groups, and specialized services. AI helps us find and process resources at a scale that would be impossible manually, but a human always has the final say before families see anything.How the process works
This site is funded entirely out of pocket by Cassy's dad, who built and maintains it. Running costs include If you want to help keep this site free for families we would really appreciate your support on Ko-fi.
Every dollar goes directly toward keeping this site running. No salary is taken from donations. It all goes back into making this site better for families.
The best way to support us is to use the platform and share your knowledge with other families. Word of mouth from real families is how we grow. If you also want to support us financially you can do so through Ko-fi, but your participation and feedback are the most valuable contributions of all.Ways to help right now
Cassy receives treatment at the St. Jude affiliate in Charlotte, NC. They provide incredible care and never charge families for treatment. If you want to support the fight against childhood cancer you can donate directly to St. Jude at stjude.org/donate. When you donate through their site 100% goes directly to St. Jude. We have no business relationship with them. We just believe in their mission.
No. When you donate to St. Jude through the link on our site that money goes directly to St. Jude, not through us. We have no business relationship with St. Jude. We just believe in their mission and want to help spread the word.
Cassy's dad built and maintains this site. He is a developer who built Cosmic Cassy because our family needed it and nothing like it existed. If you need a developer for your own project you can find his work at CodeDevHub.com.
Yes. We are open to help from volunteer developers who want to contribute to something that matters. If you are a developer and want to get involved reach out. We would love the help.
Sandra Hernandez, Cassy's mom, manages everything related to content and community. She handles Sandra works full time as an office manager and dedicates her free time to making sure this site actually helps families the way we wished something had helped ours.
No. Cosmic Cassy is NOT a medical provider and does NOT provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this site constitutes medical advice. All information, tools, and content are for informational and educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions. If you think you have a medical emergency call 911 immediately. See our Terms of Service for full medical disclaimers.
No. You are solely responsible for your own decisions and actions. Cosmic Cassy provides information and tools, but we are NOT liable for decisions you make based on site content, user stories, tool outputs, or resource listings. By using this site you acknowledge that you use it at your own risk and that you will verify all information with qualified professionals before making important decisions. See our Terms of Service for full liability details.
While we work hard to provide accurate tools errors can happen. Our Terms of Service state that we are NOT liable for any damages, losses, or consequences resulting from your use of our tools. Tools provide estimates and general guidance only. They are not professional advice. You must verify all information with qualified professionals before making decisions. If you find an error please report it so we can fix it.
Our Terms of Service contain mandatory arbitration and class action waiver clauses. By using this site you agree to resolve disputes through individual arbitration, not through court or class action lawsuits. We also have extensive liability limitations. Please read our Terms of Service for full legal details.
You retain ownership of content you post. However by posting content you grant Cosmic Cassy a license to use, reproduce, and display your content on the site. This license continues as long as your content remains on the site. If you delete your content or account the license terminates for future use, but archived copies may remain for legal or operational purposes. See our Terms of Service Section 4 for complete details about content licenses.
Yes. We reserve the right to remove any content at any time for any reason, including violations of our Terms of Service, harmful content, offensive content, or at our sole discretion. We are not obligated to provide notice before removing content. See our Terms of Service for complete content moderation policies.
If you are unable to access Cosmic Cassy your IP address may have been flagged by our automated security system. This can happen if our system detects behavior that violates our Terms of Service or appears abusive. Access restrictions are typically temporary. If you believe this is an error please contact admin@cosmiccassy.org with your IP address and the time the issue occurred.
If you believe your access was restricted in error email admin@cosmiccassy.org with the following information. We review appeals within 2 business days. Most legitimate users are restored quickly.
No. Automated access including bots, scrapers, or any automated data extraction is strictly prohibited without express written permission. This protects our site and ensures fair access for all users. Violations result in access restrictions and may result in legal action. Organizations interested in legitimate data access should contact admin@cosmiccassy.org.
Our site has security measures to prevent abuse and ensure fair access for all users. If you encounter access errors during normal use, wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem persists contact admin@cosmiccassy.org. Unusual access patterns may trigger temporary restrictions.
Cosmic Cassy works on all modern browsers. If you are using an outdated browser some features might not work correctly. We recommend keeping your browser updated.
Contact us with details about what went wrong. Please include We will look into it and fix it as fast as possible.
Yes. Cosmic Cassy is a Progressive Web App (PWA) — you can install it directly to your home screen on both iOS and Android for full app-like access, completely free. On iPhone: tap the Share button in Safari, then tap Add to Home Screen. On Android: tap the menu in Chrome, then tap Install App or Add to Home Screen. A dedicated native app is also on our roadmap.