#CAMSTRONG Support the Talbot's

Camron Talbot at the age of 9 years old on February 5 th , 2016 was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a
very rare and aggressive form of Cancer. After 6 intensive rounds of chemo and about 70 nights in the
hospital, Camron was able to ring the bell on May 9 th of 2016 and was declared Cancer free and in
remission. Then, on July 10 th that same year, Camron found a lump on his back. Unfortunately the lump
began to grow and while Camron was pitching a game in Park City Utah we got the call to have Camron
come to the OR to have the lump removed. It was that day on July 22 nd that we were told, Camron’s
lump was found to be Burkitt’s lymphoma again and he had relapsed. Camron then received two more
rounds of chemotherapy. Then unfortunately, his lump returned again due to his body becoming chemo
resistant and he had that lump removed on September 7 th . We thought Camron’s first diagnosis of
Cancer was rough but the challenges continued.
At this point we were faced with two different options. We could either stay in Utah and go right into an
allo bone marrow transplant and risk Camron having active disease, but that would possibly be our last
chance at a recovery or we could go see the Nations expert in his specific diagnosis with possibly more
options since his cancer is so rare and aggressive.
Well, we made the decision to move to New York in a matter of 3 days. His doctor told us to buy a one
way plane ticket for the three of us. Once we arrived we again made some more tough decisions and
decided to stay. Fortunately the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital shared the parking lot with the Ronald
McDonald house where we were able to stay.
Camron was given his first round of Chemotherapy and then a radioactive immunotherapy which was
able to target his Cancer cells. Camron then began his conditioning for first transplant, an auto
transplant which he was given his own bone marrow cells back (that had been collected months prior in
Utah). His first transplant was on November 16 and he did very well. He was able to be released right
before Christmas and we were all able to spend Christmas and New Year’s together in New York as a
family, a Christmas that we will never forget.
Camron was admitted for conditioning for his second transplant, an allo in January. His brothers
unfortunately were not a match but they did find a good cord blood and this transplant was performed
on January 19 th of this year. Cam was doing well with his second transplant until he developed a rare
complication of VOD (Venal Occlusive Disease) and was given a two percent chance of survival. After
spending 2 months in the PICU Camron defied all the odds and was released back up to the floor. He
spent 6 straight months in the hospital and not ever once complaining. We will never forget when
Camron’s favorite doctor in the PICU asked him, “Camron, do you ever have a bad day?” And Camron
replied “no”. While I’m thinking in my head, today is probably not a good day.
We stayed in New York, living at the Ronald McDonald House for 10 months. So very far away from
family, our support system, and our “normal lives”. We were and still are in all of this together for
Camron and even though we were miles apart we were still very close in heart. The support that was
shown to us living across the country by all of those in New York was extremely amazing. The Ronald
McDonald House was our home, the girls and director within the house was our family and we are
forever grateful for the generosity and caring hearts.
Since we have been home Camron encountered a rare Graft Versus Host Disease but he also been able
to battle through that. We live day by day grateful that we are together again as a family. We have spent
easily over 400 nights in the hospital since his initial diagnosis and home has never felt so good. We have
definitely faced challenges that we would hope nobody would ever have to go through but we have
learned so much and met so many amazing people who have touched our lives along the way. All that
we have endured the last eighteen months was all worth it because we have our Camron back home
with us here in Utah and we are all together now as a family. He has amazed us through this whole
process and is such a tough fighter and inspires us daily just being in his presence. #camstrong