Cameron, my 32 old son was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma brain tumor at the age of 12. Learning from his double vision that he had for a few weeks was because of a 10mm tumor. Flown off to Oakland children’s hospital my heart was torn. I lost my business. My other boys were displaced and March 17 had a 9 hour surgery with the best Neurosurgeon in the world.
Grateful, I did not worry for some reason during surgery. Before surgery Cameron said “Mom when are we going to get this over with ” see Cameron was a special Ed child, not understanding any of what was going on. Bravery, courage, no stress child, yet the most dangerous cancer was in him. Tumor removed and the journey of 3 years began. Going from age 12 to age 3 mentally and physically had to learn to eat, walk and talk, everything. We lived in the hospital for 6 months. They all were amazing. I lost lots of weight with stress. Managed to put in the constant work for him as his mom and extra nurse to manage his routine and one always something needed to be done just like when they are born. After the 5th round of chemo and 42 brain radiology blasts on the head Cameron got really sick with sepsis and c -diff. 4 months passed and we had one dose of chemo. No more, I said it’s killing him. So homebound completely with a nurse and infusions of ton food into port he was slowly getting better. Took him 2 years before he would eat reg food. Cameron is a strong 32 year old man living at home still with me.
Life changed dramatically. I lost my business, my main source of income. My other boys were with other families when they were 10 and 12. I was a single mom and their father came and helped out a little. I learned to sleep in a chair in the hospital. I learned that the brain tumor people were amazing. Doctors, social workers and more. I was fed well at the hospital. I lost a lot of weight. My son was in a state of imagination not understanding what was going on. Life changed. I had to run my life and my kids’ lives from a hospital. After 3 years of getting him better Cameron is still on watch with kidney stones and yearly check ups. He has bad eyes so he can’t drive. He will always live with me and I will be his caregiver. I learned that a child is strong and brave and he never complained about anything.
The community I live in Rio Nido CA came together and helped take care of my other 2 sons made sure they got to school but it really messed them up in a lot of ways mentally. The community gave us a pizza voucher from the school.
May is a wonderful month. We celebrate Cameron every March 17 st patricks day for his clear cancer free dx. He gets a present and a nice dinner. We never forget how hard it was to get here.
That one thing is all people are special and are taken care of. Always be your advocate and your childrens. I was strong in my decision making for him. Made sure he was taken care of every minute of the day. Brain Tumor is a scary dx and lots of love is given. To know they are not alone is what I want everyone to know.
Cameron is a very unique man now and he is doing well. He does not go out much. He was very brave and lots of courage and he is now a wonderful woodmaker and baker and loves to work in the landscaping world with plants and more. Very funny and wish more people knew him and his strength.
Enclosing a picture of my boys. Cameron is on the very right in picture.
