Kasey Hansen was a kind, quiet and thoughtful person who always made time for her loved ones. Anytime her family or friends asked her to do something she responded with a resounding “sure”! Her loved ones described her as having a heart of gold. Unfortunately, that very heart of gold failed Kasey. She died in May of 2017 of a heart attack caused by a spontaneous coronary artery dissection. This is a tear in the layers of a coronary artery and blocks blood flow to the heart muscle.
Kasey lived with a condition called Turner syndrome. This is a genetic disorder where one of the X chromosomes is misshaped or missing completely. Kasey’s muscles were particularly affected by this disorder. She essentially had to work twice as hard as most people to do any sort of movement. But if you ever met Kasey, you never would have guessed that she fought every day to have a typical life. She had a bright and cheery disposition. She never used her disorder as a crutch. She wanted to be known as Kasey. Not the girl with Turner syndrome. This disorder is also known to cause cardiovascular issues. Ultimately it was this disorder that caused her heart attack.
Kasey was only 31 years old when she passed away. Her family, friends and dog Lucy were heartbroken with the loss of their daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, friend, coworker and dog mom. But they also knew they were blessed to have had Kasey in their lives. That is when they decided to carry out acts of kindness in Kasey’s name. She would not have wanted people to wallow in sadness because of her death but instead to spread kindness to others. Just as Kasey had spread kindness to everyone in her life.
Kasey was very close with many of her aunts. One of these special aunts started a fund in Kasey’s name at Providence Medical Center in Wayne, nearby where Kasey grew up. The fund is called “Kasey’s Owlet Fund”. An Owlet is a monitoring system for babies that helps track things like heart rate, oxygen level and sleep. Two Owlets are given to families of babies born at Providence Medical Center per year. One to the first baby born on or after May 14th and one to the first baby born on or after December 27th. These are special dates to the family of Kasey. It is very fitting that these devices help put families at ease as Kasey was very good at putting people at ease due to her relaxed demeanor and cheerful disposition. Her honor lives on through this act of kindness. “We are honored that Kasey’s family has started this fund at Providence Medical Center. These Owlet Monitors provide many parents with peace of mind and the families we have been able to send one home with are very grateful.” Says Providence Foundation Director, Rachel Miller. “We are hopeful to create more awareness for Kasey’s Owlet Fund to help her family keep Kasey’s memory alive through this amazing act of kindness. Anyone can donate to this fund. If we can grow this fund, we would be able to gift more Owlet Monitors to more families.” Says Miller.
In December of 2022, due to the growth of this fund, we are gifting an owlet to two babies born at PMC closest to December 27th. On December 18th, 2022, Addilynn Jean Hass was born at Providence Medical Center to her parents Lynsey and Brian. They were gifted with an Owlet to hopefully ease their minds when sweet Addilynn sleeps. “I like to think that Kasey is watching over each of the babies that we send an Owlet home with. She’s like their special guardian angel”. Says Rachel Miller.
If you would like to donate to the Kasey’s Owlet Fund, use the QR code below or contact Rachel Miller, Foundation Director at 402-375-7922 or rmiller@providencemedical.com.
