Cassie’s journey of trust, forgiveness, and faith

Dalinda called Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch when she didn’t know what else to do.

“A lot of things have happened to our granddaughter, Cassie,” Dalinda said. “She never told me about some of them, like being molested when she was in junior high. Then in 2023, her mother died of a massive heart attack at age 42.”

Cassie and her four siblings have lived on and off with their grandparents all their lives. When their mom died, Dalinda and her husband’s home became their full-time home. It was a difficult time.

After her mom died, Cassie went into a spiral of depression, drug and alcohol use, running away, and getting in fights. She was angry about everything and took it out on herself and everyone around her.

“I felt guilty and blamed myself for a long time,” Cassie said. “The day before my mom passed, I didn’t want to go to school, so I was arguing with her. When she dropped me off, she told me she loved me, and I never got to tell her back because I was mad. I thought I would have many more chances. I blamed the world. I distanced myself from everyone and went down a not good path.”

After Cassie’s hospitalization for a drug overdose, where doctors gave her only a 50/50 chance of surviving, Dalinda called the Ranch for help.

“Cassie was in the hospital on a vent, and it was scary,” Dalinda said. “We wanted her to get better before she got to the point where we couldn’t help her. It was getting too dangerous. We were scared for her life and didn’t want to lose another person.”

Cassie was not at all happy about being at the Ranch.

“I told my grandparents I would never forgive them. I thought everything was unfair and like I didn’t deserve to be at the Ranch,” she said. “I’ve rethought about that now because they have really helped me a lot, but at the time, I was really mad.”

She brought that attitude with her and said she didn’t make it easy for Ranch staff.

“I gave like the bare minimum, but they were still there,” Cassie said. “I argued with them, but I eventually realized and appreciated that it was because they cared. They helped me through so much,” Cassie said.

When she started focusing on herself and her treatment, Cassie said it felt good.

“I felt like I was improving, and I didn’t know how I did it,” Cassie said. “You know when you’re going up stairs and there are so many. When you get to the top, you don’t know exactly how you made it, but you feel the fresh air and it makes you feel warm and cozy and proud.”

Cassie built a special connection with one of her Ranch teachers, Suzanne Erz, who prayed with her and inspired her to do her best.

“Mrs. Erz was like a mother figure to me,” Cassie said. “She would calm me down and talk through things with me. She taught me a lot of life lessons too, like how to understand other people’s point of view and how to be myself. She helped me love myself more than I ever thought I could.”

At the Ranch, Cassie also learned to love God. After her mom died, Cassie was angry at Him.

“I found more of God at the Ranch, if that makes sense,” Cassie said. “At first, I wouldn’t pray. I wouldn’t talk about God or have anything to do with Him. I told everyone I didn’t believe in Him, which wasn’t true. I just didn’t really care for Him because I was mad at the world, but now I love Him so much.”

As Cassie worked through her pain and gained more confidence in herself, she started trying new things, like singing in the choir during chapel. She even performed a solo at a Ranch talent show, and made people cry.

“I was so scared, but I just looked at Mrs. Erz. She made me feel like was the only person there, and I felt comfortable,” Cassie said. “I didn’t think my voice would make people cry or that I’d make such a big impact on people. But obviously, I did.”

Now home with her grandparents, brothers, and sisters, Cassie attends school, hangs out with friends, and goes to work. She is also learning to forgive.

“Forgiveness is another thing I’ve been getting pretty good at,” Cassie said. “I used to hold grudges. Now I’m a more forgiving person and have a lot of compassion for people. Even if they did me dirty, I consider that they have their own story. Not a lot of 16-year-olds think about that, so that’s a pretty big deal!”

Despite a difficult beginning, Cassie is a very different person than when she got to the Ranch.

“If you saw me before and after, there is a big difference,” she said. “I have a confidence that no one can take away from me.”

Dalinda agrees, and said, “Cassie’s face even looks different since she’s come home. She has a glow again. She seems like she has hope. Cassie wants to be a nurse, and she has the grades for it. She is very smart. She is beautiful. She’s got the biggest heart, and she has so much to offer.”

Dalinda contacted the Ranch in June to tell us Cassie ended the school year with a 3.8 GPA! She is very proud of the wonderful young woman Cassie is becoming.

As for Cassie, she is glad to be home, and grateful for her time at the Ranch.

“Oh my gosh. You know what I haven’t done? I haven’t thanked my grandparents, like to their faces! I am thankful they brought me to the Ranch, even though I couldn’t accept it for a long time,” Cassie said. “When I got there, I hated everything—myself and everyone around me. By the time I left, I loved the Ranch. I love the smiles around me. I loved myself. I loved God.