Cameron was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma in Febuary of 2008. After his tumor resection surgery, he underwent six weeks of radiation therapy and four months of chemotherapy. After these treatments, we went back into our "normal" lives and Cameron progressed well getting back into school and the day-to-day of being a little boy.
However, a routine MRI on March 19, 2010 showed his cancer had returned. On November 9th, 2011, Cameron finally conquered his battle with cancer when he opened his eyes to the joys of heaven. Even in these dark days, we know God has richly blessed us by putting so many wonderful people in our path during this journey and we are so very thankful for them all.
He was feeling well enough to stay all day at school, so he did. He showed all of his friends his port and told them “they needed to be careful with it”…only Cam. He hasn’t woke up yet this morning, but if he’s feeling well again today, we’ll send him on to try to keep things as normal as possible for him. His counts have started dropping, so we’ll have to keep an eye on them to hold him out if they fall too low, so we’re trying to walk that line of letting him be a kid and protecting him.
We also want to say a HUGE “Thank you!!” for all the meals we’ve been given pretty much every night from our church family. They have been SO helpful to keep us from having to worry about that in the evenings. We know we’re blessed by the support system surrounding us.
The rain washed away the race, but we still had a good time with the experience even thought it was a bit on the chilly side. Cam wanted a Subway Carl Edwards hat and a FedEx car with a red “11”, so once he found those in the souvenir trailers, he was more than content with the day. You would think a child who had the MRI he did and had just taken a week’s worth of chemo pills like he had wouldn’t be able to climb up 61 steps, but there he was chugging along like the little man he is making it all the way on his own. Between getting up early and exploring the track, he was pretty tired and fell asleep in my arms while we watched the crews try to dry the track. Once they called the race, we woke him up and he was MORE than full of energy again for the walk back and told us many times during the trip back how much fun he had…even though we never heard the first engine start. That’s what is so amazing about this child…he enjoys every moment of life regardless of what it’s “supposed” to be. We heard the obvious complaints from people leaving the track, but here’s a child in the battle of his life singing away like there’s not a care in the world. It both inspires and saddens me at the same time, but you can’t help but smile at him.
Cam has his first IV med this morning through his port, so we’re hoping that goes well with the needle stick into the port and that he doesn’t have any major issues with the drug after the fact. Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers…
Cameron's CSF did show malignant cells in the fluid that is consistent with medulloblastoma. Unfortunately, Cam’s original tumor was also tested and we found out he does not qualify for a trial drug we were hoping for. The chemo plan doesn’t change with this finding and there may be other options as well for this different tumor, so we’ll see how things progress from here. He’s been SO brave taking his chemo meds these past two nights and has felt pretty good through the days after, so at least there’s some positive news to report there. In the meantime, they are hoping to grow tumor from the cells in his CSF to see if what he has now is the same as his original tumor.
We’re going to Martinsville Speedway this weekend to see the NASCAR race and he is VERY excited about that, so hopefully the weather and his tummy will cooperate so he can have a great day. I’ll post some pics on my Facebook page (ernestpjacksoniv), so send me a friend request if you want to see them.
Cam took his five pills last night with the last one being large enough to choke most adults, but he got them all down without even flinching. He never ceases to amaze me with the things he can do. He slept well and seems to be having less pain from the port placement on Monday, so hopefully today will be a good day for him.
Cam's had his latest MRI this past Friday and it showed his cancer has returned and has moved into pretty much the entire length of his spinal cord. Cam had a port placed yesterday and we just gave Cam his first chemo drugs a few minutes ago. He will be taking pills for two parts of his chemo with the third part being an out patient visit to the day clinic for administration through his port. He also had a Lumbar Puncture yesterday and we should be hearing back in the next few days as far as the cytology to know if this is the same cancer Cam had earlier which has now metastasized or if it's something else.
Needless to say, LeAnn and I as well as the doctors, nurses, and support staff at Duke are all devastated by this news. This September would have been two years post-treatment and would have been a huge milestone for him as far as the possibility of relapse. The doctors at Duke are all taking this VERY personally and are working EXTREMELY hard to come up with every possible alternative for Cam, but we will also have to face some tough decisions in the upcoming months depending on how Cam's tumors react to the chemo. Any positive thoughts, prayers, whatever are so very much appreciated during this time for Cam for healing, peace of mind and heart, and most importantly to not suffer through this process as his body has been through so much already. Please also pray for wisdom for the doctors as well as LeAnn and I to know the right steps to take during every portion of Cam's fight. He just took his first chemo med, so the journey has begun in this latest chapter of Cam's wonderful life...and you have no idea how hard it was to just type those words.
I'll update as soon as we know more from the Lumbar Puncture.
