Flesh of my flesh: Mother shares daughter's legacy through tattoo fundraiser

The life and death of Brigid Cassidy’s daughter Brittany inspires the Beaverton mom to fight for families facing cystic fibrosis

By Christina Lent

The Beaverton Valley Times, Nov 11, 2009, Updated Nov 12, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Brigid Cassidy shows the beginnings of a large tattoo honoring her daughter Brittany who died April 26, 2008, of liver failure caused by cystic fibrosis. Some of Brittany’s ashes were blended with the ink so that she is always with her mother.

Jaime Valdez / The Beaverton Valley Times

It’s been nearly one year and seven months since Brigid Cassidy lost her 18-year-old daughter Brittany to complications from cystic fibrosis.

In that time, the Beaverton mother has had to remain strong for her 4-year-old son Jayden and her daughter’s wide circle of friends, stifling her own myriad emotions as she grieved for her eldest child, who died too soon.

After months of heartbreak, sorrow and anger, Brigid is rising from a fog of shock to pursue Brittany’s wish to help others.

“It’s time for me to find my purpose in life and pull myself up again,” Brigid said. “Brittany and I had talked about starting a foundation for years that would directly help families dealing with cystic fibrosis.”

Brigid hopes to establish the “Wings of Brittany Foundation” by what would have been Brittany’s 21st birthday on Sept. 8, 2010.

In the meantime, Brigid is teaming up with Voodoo Tattoo in Portland to hold a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of Brittany on Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Special tattoo designs honoring Brittany are $65. Airbrush temporary tattoos are $8. All proceeds from the Get Inked For Brittany event will go directly to help fund treatment centers and research for new therapies and a cure for cystic fibrosis.

The life-threatening genetic disease affects the lungs and digestive system of tens of thousands of young people. The medical treatment required to improve the lives of those children living with the condition can be both financially and emotionally draining to patients and their families.

“I felt alone,” Brigid said. “It’s such an emotional disease, but that part of it is not talked about. You’re told about the medical hardships and expenses, but not the emotions you’re going to face.”

“I want to start a foundation to help families with that and support them. Families need to have someone to talk to about the dark stuff — someone who will be real with them.”

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