Cassie was born in Russia in 1987 to an alcoholic mother who gave her up immediately after birth. She was born tiny and suffered from fetal malnutrition. She was sent to an orphanage at a time when the Soviet Union was crumbling, and the social safety net was in chaos.

Cassie suffered the nightmare for which Russian orphanages became infamous. Mistreated by peers and staff alike, she was beaten, her things stolen, and her meager Christmas presents never given to her. Unfunded, the orphanage didn’t feed her properly. Hygiene was never taught, and Cassie was left to fend for herself in a setting without anyone to protect her. She did not attend school and had learning disabilities that were never diagnosed. She remembers having to steal food in the orphanage, just to keep her stomach from aching.

When she was seven years old, Cassie was adopted and brought to Texas. Her new family already had seven adopted children, and would soon adopt two more. She began attending school and was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, dyslexia and ADHD.

Cassie tried to fit in with the other children in the household, as well as her adoptive parents, but she had needs that were not being met in such a large family. When she was 14 , Cassie ran away, thinking she was doing the family a favor – relieving them of a burden. She was picked up by authorities, and when her parents were notified to come pick her up, they refused.

Cassie became a ward of the State in 2002. She was sent to live with a foster family, who determined, after a few months, that they were not prepared to deal with her needs. In July, 2002, Cassie was moved yet again. This time, she was sent to Hill Country Youth Ranch in Ingram. Her caseworker had seen miracles happen at the quiet rural setting before, and hoped that Cassie might be the next.

When Cassie arrived, she didn’t talk much, and looked down at her feet when she did. She described herself as "ruining my family and messing things up." Cassie would clearly need a lot of nurturing.

A social worker at the Ranch noted on her intake study that "Cassie loves animals and being outdoors. She enjoys sports, hiking, and riding horses."

It seemed only logical to place Cassie at the Big Springs Ranch near Leakey, where she could attend the Ed Brune Charter School, take advantage of the small class sizes, and be taught by teachers specially trained to help students with academic deficits. She would also be near the animal and horse program at the new campus.

She began to make progress in both school and home life. Finally, after navigating through a scary and difficult childhood, Cassie was in a place where she felt safe and supported. She felt at home.

Cassie soon found areas where she excelled. She was recognized as "Worker of the Year" in the summer vocational program. She never tired of the outdoor work or tasks assigned. Enjoying the environment of work, she took a job in town on weekends, employed at a restaurant where she "hustled from the minute she clocked in until the moment she clocked out," according to those who saw her clearing tables and running back and forth from the kitchen to the dining area.

Perhaps most important, she found a niche working with Michael Priour, director of the animal care program, at the horse barn. She has been a volunteer at the barn from the day the first horse was brought there. Michael refers to Cassie as his "right arm." She’s always willing to feed, brush, or walk an animal without being asked. She runs over to the barn at the end of each school day and is always eager to tell visitors about a new colt, or show her riding skills in the arena.

Under Michael’s tutelage, Cassie has learned to show horses, a skill that takes many hours of dedication and training. Says Michael, "Cassie is tops in her riding class."

The value of the program has not been lost on Michael’s dad, Gary Priour, who is founder and director of the Youth Ranch.

"I am so glad about Cassie and her accomplishments," he says. "That makes it all worthwhile. That is why we have the barn and arena, and that is why we can justify the costs of operating such a program."

He adds, "Every child needs to find a gift, a passion for something, a dream to pursue. That’s when miracles happen that transform their behaviors, their school performance, their life journeys. We must vigilantly search for these passions in each child."

Cassie is now a senior at the Ed Brune Charter School and looks forward to graduation. She will have lived at the Ranch for more than five years by the time she leaves next summer. Her plan is to attend Palo Alto College in San Antonio and earn her Associate’s Degree as a Veterinary Technician. She has visited the campus and is already involved in internship programs with veterinarians in Uvalde.

Cassie is excited about her future, stating that her "dream has always been to care for animals, especially large ones, like horses."

Without the Ranch, and its animal program, Cassie might never have realized her potential in an environment so well suited for her.

Cassie sums it up best when she says, "I always dreamed of finding a safe place to live. The Big Springs Ranch is so peaceful; there’s no traffic out here and the sunsets are more beautiful than any other place in the world. I love living here."

Perhaps the beauty of the sunset is a reflection in the eyes of a little girl who finally found a home.