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 - to 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. No subscriptions, no hidden fees, no premium tiers. 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 families navigating childhood cancer. Parents, caregivers, survivors, and anyone supporting a child through treatment. Whether you just got the diagnosis or you are years into it, you are welcome here.
You can read blog posts, browse resources, and explore the site without an account. But to use tools, submit your own post, access the AI Writing Assistant, or report resource problems, you need to create a free account. Takes about 2 minutes. Plus, your account lets us show you state-specific resources relevant to YOUR area.
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. Your password is encrypted, your account data is protected, and we never share your personal information. We use industry-standard security measures to protect user data. However, no system is 100% secure and we cannot guarantee absolute security. We do our best to protect your information. If you ever have security concerns, please contact us immediately.
Yes. Contact us and we will delete your account and all associated data within 48 hours. Note: 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 can help you improve clarity, add emotion, check grammar, or even suggest what to write next. 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.
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.
Right now, no. But if you need something changed, contact us and we will help.
Blog posts come from two sources. Posts written by our community and submitted by families like you. And posts written by Sandra, Cassy's mom, who shares our family's journey and resources she has found helpful. 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 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 available tools 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. Tool outputs may contain errors, outdated information, or may not account for your specific circumstances. Always verify information with qualified professionals before making any important decisions. Examples: Financial aid calculators show estimates - actual aid depends on program availability and approval. Cost estimators are averages - your actual costs may differ significantly. Travel calculators provide distance estimates - actual travel time may vary. We do our best to keep information current, but we cannot guarantee accuracy or completeness.
Medical Disclaimer: The medication tracker is for YOUR personal record-keeping only. It is NOT medical advice and is NOT reviewed by medical professionals. Always follow your doctor's instructions exactly. Never rely solely on our tracker for medication management. If you have questions about your child's medications, dosing, or timing, call your healthcare provider immediately. The tracker is a helpful organizational tool, but your medical team's guidance always takes priority.
Some tools may use artificial intelligence (AI) 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 and up-to-date, 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. 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 (medications, tracking data, calculations, etc.) is permanently deleted within 48 hours. We recommend exporting any data you want to keep before deleting your account. Once deleted, we cannot recover it.
We're a community-maintained directory of resources for families fighting childhood cancer. Every resource here was found by someone who's been in your shoes - whether that's Sandra (who reviews everything), families who've shared what helped them, or our AI that searches for programs you might miss. It's all of us working together to make sure no family has to search alone.
First, breathe. You're not alone. Start with our Core Resources section on the resources page - these are the must-know national organizations like St. Jude, Ronald McDonald House, and the American Childhood Cancer Organization. Then filter by your state to find local help. Look at Financial resources first if bills are piling up, or Emotional Support if you need someone to talk to. There's no wrong place to start - just start somewhere.
Every single resource is reviewed by Sandra before it goes live. When families submit resources, when our AI finds new programs, when someone reports a problem - Sandra checks it all. We also track helpful votes from families who've actually used these resources. That said, we're an informational directory - always verify any resource independently before sharing personal information or applying for assistance.
Completely free. No catch. No ads. No selling your information. This is families helping families - that's it. We built this because we know how overwhelming it is to search for help when your child is sick. You shouldn't have to pay for a list of resources.
Visit the resources page and select your state to see resources available in your area. If you're near a major city, select it too for even more local help. Choose a category (Financial, Medical, Emotional, Practical, or Education) to narrow down what you need right now. You'll see three sections: Core Resources (always shown - the big national organizations), National Resources (available everywhere), and State/City Resources (local to your area).
Try selecting just your state without a city - you'll see state-wide resources that serve your entire state. Also check National Resources - many can help regardless of where you live. If you know of a local resource that's missing, please submit it on the resources page! That's how we grow - one family helping the next.
Financial - Grants, bill assistance, fundraising help. Medical - Treatment centers, second opinions, clinical trials. Emotional - Counseling, support groups, mental health resources. Practical - Housing, meals, transportation, childcare. Education - School support, tutoring, educational advocacy.
Anyone. If you found a charity that paid your electric bill, a church that provided meals, a local counselor who helped your family - share it. Other families in your area need to know. Just click 'Submit Resource' on the resources page and tell us what helped you. Sandra will review it and add it to the directory if it checks out.
Constantly. When families report broken links or outdated info, Sandra reviews and updates within 48 hours. Our system also auto-checks links monthly. Plus, families are always submitting new resources they've found. This is a living directory - it grows and improves every single day because of contributions from people like you.
Every resource is reviewed by Sandra before going live, but we're an informational directory - not endorsements or guarantees. We compile what families share and what we find through research. Always verify any resource independently, check their requirements, and make sure it's a good fit for your situation. Think of us as a starting point, not the final word.
Report it! Click the 'Report Problem' button on any resource on the resources page. Tell us what's wrong (broken link, outdated info, wrong category, etc). Sandra gets notified immediately and will fix it within 48 hours. This is how we keep the directory accurate - families like you letting us know when something needs updating.
Most lists are outdated PDFs that nobody maintains. We're different: resources are continuously updated by the community, organized by your exact location (state AND city), rated by families who've actually used them, and reviewed by someone who cares (Sandra). Plus, we combine what families share, what Sandra finds, and what AI discovers - so you get the most comprehensive list possible.
This is a community effort. Sandra reviews every resource to ensure quality. Families contribute by sharing what helped them. Our AI searches for programs people might miss. Everyone plays a part. We're not a big corporation or faceless nonprofit - we're real people who understand what you're going through.
When families use a resource and it actually helps, they can vote it as helpful. More votes = more families found it useful. It's how you can tell what resources are actually making a difference versus ones that just sound good on paper. Real feedback from real families.
Please do. That's the whole point. Share the link in support groups, on social media, with your hospital social worker, with the family you just met in the waiting room. 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.
Submit resources you've found on the resources page. Report problems when you see them. Vote 'helpful' on resources that actually helped you. Share this with other families who need it. That's it. Every little bit helps the next family who comes 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, research, and AI-assisted discovery. All resources are reviewed before publication, but we cannot guarantee accuracy, availability, or quality of services. 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 what is necessary to make the site work. Your name, email, password, state (optional), and any data you enter into tools like medication tracking. We also track basic analytics like page views to improve the site. That is it. Read our full privacy policy.
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. No tracking pixels. No affiliate links. No sponsored content. 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. Sandra and Edgar have access to the database for maintenance and support, but we do not look at your private data unless you ask us to help with something.
Yes, but only essential cookies to keep you logged in and remember your preferences. No tracking cookies. No advertising cookies.
No. AI is only used to help discover and manage resources in our directory - it does NOT process your personal data. Your account information, tool data, and personal details are never sent to AI. The only thing our AI does is search the web for potential resources to add to the directory, which Sandra then reviews before publishing.
Our AI searches the web to discover childhood cancer resources that families might not know about - things like local charities, grant programs, support groups, and services. When AI finds something, it gets added to a review queue where Sandra manually checks it before it goes live on the resources page. AI helps us find resources faster, but Sandra ensures they're legitimate before families see them.
Edgar pays for everything out of pocket. Hosting, database, AI tools, email service, domain fees. It adds up. If you want to help us keep this site free for families, we would really appreciate it. You can support us on Ko-fi.
Every dollar goes toward keeping this site running. Server hosting, database costs, AI tools for resource search and site features, email service, and domain fees. Edgar does not take a salary or profit from this. It all goes back into making this site better.
The best way to support us is to USE the platform and SHARE your knowledge. Submit resources that helped you, report problems you find, write about your journey on the blog, and tell other families about us. Word-of-mouth from real families is how we grow. If you want to support us financially through Ko-fi, we would appreciate it - but right now, your participation and feedback are the most valuable contributions.
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 support them.
Edgar Robledo, Cassy's dad, built and maintains this site. He is a freelance developer. He built Cosmic Cassy because our family needed it. If you need a developer for your own project, check out his work at CodeDevHub.com.
Yes. Right now Edgar maintains everything, but he is open to help from volunteer developers. If you are a developer and want to contribute, reach out. We would love the help.
Sandra Hernandez, Cassy's mom, manages everything content related. Reviewing post submissions, curating resources, writing blog posts, and protecting this community. She works full time as an office manager but dedicates her free time to making sure this site actually helps families.
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. Our Terms of Service contain detailed liability disclaimers. 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.
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 - 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 that cap our liability at $100. 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 but not limited to: 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 support@cosmiccassy.org with your IP address and the time the issue occurred.
If you believe your access was restricted in error, email support@cosmiccassy.org with: (1) Your IP address (shown on the error page), (2) The time the issue occurred, (3) A brief description of what you were doing. 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 edgar@codedevhub.com.
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 support@cosmiccassy.org. Unusual access patterns may trigger temporary restrictions.
Cosmic Cassy works on all modern browsers. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge. If you are using an outdated browser, some features might not work. We recommend keeping your browser updated.
Contact Edgar with details about what went wrong. What page, what you were doing, what browser you are using. He will fix it as fast as possible.
Not yet, but it is on the roadmap. For now you can use the website on your phone browser. It works just like an app. Plus, as a Progressive Web App, you can install it to your home screen for easy access.