Dear OST Parents, Dancers, and Supporters,

When I created Off Season Training in 2014, it was made to empower dancers in their own bodies, and help them recover and prevent injuries. In 2015, I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which is a progressive connective tissue disorder, that causes your body to produce faulty collagen. This affects anywhere connective tissue is present which is everywhere (skin, ligaments, organs, etc.) I was dealing with frequent joint dislocations but was able to be on crutches and continue to coach.

In the last week OSTSI 2017, my hip dislocated and that was a major setback. I continued to work on crutches and prepare dancers for the 2018 YAGP Season ahead. That January, my shoulders gave out and I had to move into a wheelchair.

The Ehlers Danlos has progressed faster than we ever could have anticipated. For the past year, I have been in the hospital a couple days per week trying to combat the symptoms and cormorbid conditions that EDS causes. This February, I was moved to home care, and I had hoped that by being able to do all my IV’s and medications/treatments at home that I would be able to virtually run OST, but that is not the case.

I enjoyed every minute working with all of you and I am happy to help you with anything you may need in the future. If you need an injury consult or copies of your former personal HEP, I am happy to help in any way I can. We worked hard to think through what we could still do with OST considering where I am at and projected to be heading medically, but ultimately we know my full time job needs to be taking care of my body.

It breaks my heart to bring this to an end, but after much deliberation Jared, my medical team, and I decided this was what needed to happen. Thank you for all your support over the years, and thank you for giving me something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

If you need anything please feel free to email me here

Thank you for being a part of OST, Jared and I loved being able to be apart of your journey.

I wish you all the best,

Cassie M. Nolin

Cassie Nolin is a married spoonie who lives the chronic illness life with EDS + Co. (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and it’s comorbid conditions.) She challenges others to choose grace over guilt in goal setting, and is in ministry part time serving the online community through The Spoonie Study. She loves planting, hand lettering, and sharing the hope she has found in Jesus. Her blog, Living the Chronic Illness Life, is in the top 100 chronic illness blogs and her podcast, Chronically Cultivating, is produced by Speaking to the Heart Network. Cassie encourages women to live authentic and intentional lives through their diagnosis’ not in spite of them. You can learn more about her at www.livingthechronicillnesslife.com