New Hips for Camille

Right after her first birthday, Camille was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy— a rare, genetic, neuromuscular disorder that causes a degenerative decline in muscle strength. Over the next few weeks we learned about the disease, its prognosis, and when Camille was fitted for her first wheelchair at 14 months old, the reality of life with SMA truly hit. Navigating life with this disease over the last six years has been quite a journey, but next month, the Callais family will face one of the most difficult challenges yet when Casie, Brandon, and Camille fly to Boston so Camille can undergo bilateral hip reconstruction surgery.

This is a major surgery that will require around the clock care, pain management, and a month long stay in Boston away from their home, their jobs, and their four year old son, Jude. The trip and surgery will be expensive in and of itself, but they'll also have to rent an apartment in Boston and completely uproot their lives until Camille is cleared to go home. Additionally, Casie is a contracted physical therapist (paid by hour) which means the family will lose her entire income for the month of November while she is in Boston with Camille.

We are raising money to alleviate the financial burden, so that Casie and Brandon can focus on caring for Camille as she recovers.  

The money raised will:
+ Help pay for housing near the hospital in Boston
+ Provide grocery delivery service
+ Help pay for travel expenses
+ Help to provide entertainment for Camille as she will be bedridden for most of the time and all of her things will be at home
+ Supplement Casie’s lost income

We have seen Christ’s love in Camille through her strength, determination, and resilience. She illuminates every room with her bright smile, beautiful blue eyes, and those well-known bouncy red curls. She has been to countless doctor appointments, has seen dozens of specialists and therapists, and has had more bloodwork and procedures done than most of us will have in a lifetime— and she does it all with a smile.  When I ask her about them, she shows no fear but instead a childlike faith that we are all called to have. Those appointments and procedures have added up over the years so her medical savings account has been depleted. Any additional funds will be added to her medical savings account for future therapies she’ll need back home after the surgery  

Casie and Brandon have beautifully and selflessly answered the call to be Camille’s parents. They sacrifice day in and day out for her— never asking for anything, but they need their village now more than ever. I think I can speak for the entire family when I say we are forever thankful for the people God has put into our and Camille's lives.

Once again, thank you all for your prayers, donations, and love. 

To read more about this superhero, visit Camilles Corner