Against all odds, Cassandra and her NICU twins have been through the unimaginable and now she’s sharing their story online.
Can you tell us a little more about your background and how you got started creating content online?
Absolutely. I always say my social media journey was born when my twins were born. Long story short my life happened like this:
NICU twins were born 2018
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer: 2019
My son, Lincoln, was diagnosed with Leukemia: 2020
This is how I ended up with a platform. I like to emphasize that I never felt alone. I was surrounded by so much love and support from well-meaning people that it was actually overwhelming. I was “copy & pasting” updates from person to person (the babies’ stability was constantly changing. For example, in and out of the incubators, Levi’s diagnosis of NEC, etc.) I eventually had no choice but to stop responding individually to people and I essentially started “blogging” through their 89-day NICU stay though I didn’t view it that way at the time. I would post updates, how we were feeling, prayer requests, a photo, etc.
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 6 months after the twins came home. The twins had tons of special needs coming home from the hospital including Levi on oxygen. It took me three months to be diagnosed and my treatment lasted a few months. I received a total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine. I was quarantined before the quarantine was cool.
Having said all of this, no amount of life experience can prepare you for your child being diagnosed with cancer. Lincoln was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on the 4th of July 2020.
He had just turned 4 years old.
His treatment was life-changing and debilitating, to say the least. His treatment lasted from July of 2020 to September of 2022.
Through the years (and my family’s healing) my content has naturally evolved into more “everyday” content highlighting beauty, fashion, and photography while raising awareness.
Have you always been involved/interested in Western Fashion?
Living in New Mexico all my life (I grew up in Santa Fe) it’s always been around me. Appreciating it didn’t come until later. I was a super tom-boy growing up and considered myself kind of a late “bloomer”. As my platform has grown over the past several years I’ve gotten deeper and deeper into the fashion scene and I’ve realized that Western culture and fashion have been under my nose my whole life. I grew up on the Santa Fe Plaza with handmade turquoise jewelry around every corner. My Grandpa’s cowboy hat has been hung up on the same hook by the kitchen since I was born, but I see it now.
Krysta: With having a larger platform online, is there anything in particular that you hope to get across through your content? (Your values, mission, a certain message, etc)
Raising awareness for causes I’m passionate about is the most important piece of my platform. I am heavily involved in the nonprofit world and it feels like I’ve come full circle. I am currently serving on the committee for the biggest fundraising gala Make A Wish NM holds every year – Wine & Wishes. I currently serve on the board of a nonprofit organization called Camp Enchantment. This is a local NM camp that is dedicated to serving children who currently have, or who’ve had, cancer. I also volunteer every year to help fundraise for another local NM nonprofit called the New Mexico Dream Center. They are dedicated to serving women and children coming out of the darkness of sex trafficking.
Fashion, beauty, photography, being creative. These things are important, fun, and give me life but at the end of the day, the goal will always be to help guide people in the direction of more important things.
What is your favorite part about sharing your life and fashion online?
The friendships I’ve made and getting to be creative. I wouldn’t have near the amount of joy in my heart if I wasn’t actively using my abilities to create beauty.
What has been your biggest challenge in showing up online?
Being vulnerable with my audience and balancing it all.
How do you want people to know or remember you from interacting with your content online?
I want people to leave my profile feeling empowered and inspired to make a difference in the world. And maybe feeling more confident about that new eyelash routine they’ve been wanting to try. wink wink
Cassandra’s Closing Thoughts
I’d love to share this quote that changed my life. From the book Streams in the Desert: by L.B. Cowman, it says this:
“Sorrow, under the power of divine grace, performs various ministries in our lives.
Sorrow reveals unknown depths of the soul and unknown capacities for suffering and service.
Lighthearted, frivolous people are often shallow and are never aware of their own eagerness or lack of depth.
Sorrow is God’s tool to plow the depths of the soil, so that it may yield richer harvests. Accordingly, it is sorrow that causes us to take the time to think deeply and seriously.
Sorrow makes us move more slowly and considerately and examine our motives and attitudes.
It opens within us the capacities of the heavenly life, and it makes us willing to set our capacities afloat on a limitless sea of service for God and for others.”
Make sure to follow Cassandra on Instagram @yochowdaa and learn more about her at CassandaRoseCooper.com
