Kick-in for Cameron: fighting brain cancer at 14

Less than a month ago, I was at my younger brother's wedding, teaching my 14-year old nephew, Cameron, how to dance. Yesterday afternoon, Cameron and I talked on the phone. He described navigating waist-high grass in a soggy marsh under the warm fall sun while en route to Somenos Creek, where he was about to do his all-time favourite thing: fish. Cameron's love of fishing is both inherited and nurtured. It lives somewhere deep in his bones and has been passed-on through multiple generations of avid fishermen; his father (my older brother), Jeremy, is at the fore.

As good conversation does, ours flowed easily through various topics: music, our favourite hallowe'en candy, upcoming travel... and brain cancer. Only a couple of days ago Cameron was diagnosed with a Medulloblastoma, a rare form of cancer that tends to affect children and grows in the mid-brain, between the cerebellum and the brain stem. Cameron's tumour, discovered two weeks prior, was the size of a mandarine orange.

Fortunately, the talented neurosurgeons at the BC Children's Hospital were able to meticulously remove the tumour during a 10-hour procedure on September 11th. When he woke up from the operation, his dad was there to read him the Pacific Salmon Fishing Guide. (I'm not even kidding - see pic). Cameron spent seven days in hospital, surrounded by his loving family the entire time including his mother Denise, his grandma Sue, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

On Monday (Sept. 25), Cameron will need a lumbar puncture to confirm whether his cancer has spread to his spine or lymphatic system. Then, sometime before Thanksgiving, Cameron and Jeremy will travel to Seattle for a 6-week intensive series proton (radio)therapy treatment. Proton Therapy is a relatively new treatment and is less invasive than traditional radiotherapy because it is only used on targeted regions of the brain. After that, he will need chemo therapy at the BC Children's for an unforeseen amount of time. However, even with chemo and proton therapy, the five-year prognosis for a Medulloblastoma is 72%.

---

Cameron is a pretty affable and mature teen, along with fishing he loves his lambs and is a committed member of the local Cedar 4H Club. But, our phone conversation reminded me that even so, he's still young and there is a world yet for him to discover.

"Seattle's pretty cool though. I think you'll like it. Plus!" I exclaimed, "It's the birthplace of Nirvana!"

"Who?" he asked.

"Only one of the most iconic bands of all time!" I said, suddenly feeling old.

Personally, I have too much to share with Cameron to let him go without a fight. I know that Cameron has a whole community rallying behind him, including his parents, siblings, grandparents, extended family, and friends. My brother, for example, has stopped working and will care for his son full-time until he recovers. Jeremy's love for Cameron is tenacious and protective. It's truly a beautiful thing to witness.

We expect to be 'in it' for a long while to come. This fundraiser will help cover costs up-front (travel, food, lodging) as well as paying bills while Jeremy is off work. The goal is to create a financial safety-net so that Jeremy and Cameron can focus on kicking cancer's butt. Your donations offer a life-line. Hope is the raft that will get these boys through rough waters and back to a calm eddy (to fish!).

Thank you for sharing this post, giving what you can, and for your heartfelt words of encouragement.

With love and gratitude,

(Aunty) Jade

xo

TL;DR: My nephew Cameron has brain cancer. Please donate.