Doctors, nurses, caregivers, and family all say it’s a miracle. A Joshua Tree woman who’s been on hospice care for most of the year, and wasn’t expected to live, is going home today. Managing editor Tami Roleff met with Julie Cassle yesterday, who talked about her struggle with liver failure, and the prospect of going home…
Today is a day that Jim Brady and Julie Cassle didn’t think they would ever see. After months on hospice at the Continuing Care Center in Joshua Tree, Cassle is going home today. “Everybody around here thinks it’s a miracle.” Brady said his wife of nearly 14 years was diagnosed with liver failure in January, and in March, Brady was told that Cassle may not make it through the night. Brady sat by Cassle’s bedside for the next six days and nights, waiting for her to wake up. Of course, the minute Brady left to go home to get some sleep, he got a phone call that Cassle had woken up. “He nearly ran out of the house with no pants on; he was here within about 7 minutes flat.” Although she’s had some difficult times, Cassle has a couple of theories about her recovery. “I think all my friends and their friends, they’re praying. The fact that these guys know what they’re doing; and the fact in my six days I must’ve told somebody there I ain’t coming, ’cause I wasn’t ready.” Cassle said the staff at the CCC has been wonderful, but … “I’m definitely ready to go home.”
