Salvation Army keeps cancer survivor afloat

Organization offers several services

ORLANDO, Fla. – Diane Caissie, 55, is grateful to have the strength to clean her own kitchen, and after two bouts with cancer, she's grateful to even have a kitchen.

"That was a main concern, that I was going to be homeless," she said. "I think that devastated me more than the thought of having the cancer."

Caissie was diagnosed in 2014 with throat cancer.  Doctors recommended a rigorous round of chemo and advised her she shouldn't work.

"I didn't know how I was going to pay my rent each month," she said.  I mean, just my basic needs. I wasn't sure how I was going to take care of that without working,"

Struggling with a dreadful diagnosis while stressing about keeping a roof over her head, a friend recommended that she contact the Salvation Army.

"I thought Salvation Army was just a store that you could go to buy used goods (and) clothing," Caissie said.

But she found it was so much more when she contacted case manager specialist Bridgett Davis.

"For me, its a heart of compassion because I always put myself in the other person's shoes thinking that could easily be me," Davis told News 6.

The Salvation Army offered financial assistance, and Davis connected Caissie with other resources, including walking her through the process of applying for food stamps, and connecting her with an attorney who helped her apply for social security disability.

Davis said she is part case manager, part motivator. 

"Many times you do see people at a low point," she said. "So a lot of times you're spending time just to try and encourage them and assure them that they are going to be OK, that they are going to get through this."

Caissie said the Salvation Army kept her afloat through one of the most difficult times of her life.

"I mean, if it wasn't for the Salvation Army, I really don't know where I would have been," she said.

Because of the assistance she received, Caissie was able to keep her apartment and finish her chemo.
Caissie said she recently found out she is cancer-free.

If you need assistance, check out the Salvation Army location nearest you.


About the Author:

Emmy Award-winning reporter Louis Bolden joined the News 6 team in September of 2001 and hasn't gotten a moment's rest since. Louis has been a General Assignment Reporter for News 6 and Weekend Morning Anchor. He joined the Special Projects/Investigative Unit in 2014.