The Camden J. Arce Support Fund

Hello everyone, my name is Tim and I’m here to help a fellow coworker’s family who has been struck with an unimaginable tragedy that no family should ever be faced with.

On April 7, 2023, Camden J. Arce was born to the proudest parents, Nicole and Chris Arce. Camden who is a 5-month-old little guy as I write this story was born with the cards stacked against him. He started off rough and was born 7 weeks premature spending the first 26 days of his life in the NICU along side his family. Camden endured the challenges of being born early and came home, but still faced health challenges and obstacles. A team of doctors, pediatricians, and specialists was assembled to help Camden through his health-related issues. At 3 months old Camden was referred to a geneticist to seek some answers.

On September 7, 2023, Nicole and Chris received the answer no parent ever should or could imagine hearing, Camden was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder (SPTAN 1) that has a grim prognosis. With the diagnosis the family learned there is no known cure or treatment. The devasting outcome in children with his same diagnosis is they have a short life expectancy, severe developmental, psychomotor, and physical delays and there are currently only 140 cases known worldwide and only 5 within the United States.

This disorder, SPTAN1, is extremely rare and was only first discovered in 2012. SPTAN1 leads to and causes Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy. Currently Camden is being followed by his Neurologist, Ophthalmologist, Gastro doctors along with weekly appointments for Physical and Occupational Therapy.

I had the pleasure of meeting this little guy a few months ago and he is so much more than this diagnosis. He is a sweet resilient guy and makes a everyone instantly fall in love with him from his red fiery hair to his quirks that make you laugh. It is a pleasure, honor, and inspiration of resiliency to know Camden, but also a reminder how fragile life can be.

Now, let me introduce you to the parents of Camden and explain the life of service they live.

Nicole and Chris met in 2018 and were married in 2021 in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Both grew up in Southern California and call Apple Valley, California, where they just recently purchased a new house to call home and to start raising their family. Nicole is the daughter of Lieutenant Robert Adelmann of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Lacey Adelmann and the sister of Office Services Supervisor (Morongo Basin CHP Area) Victoria Adelmann.

Nicole has been an Elementary School Teacher for the past 11 years in the Corona-Norco Unified School District and this year made the decision to relocate to the Apple Valley Unified School District for the 2023-2024 school year. The decision was based for the mere reason to be closer to their home for and after Camden's birth.

Because of Camden's diagnosis, detailed daily care, and numerous weekly medical appointments, Chris and Nicole have made the difficult decision for her to take a leave of absence from the profession she loves and spend all the remaining precious moments with Camden. This decision, which any parent would have made in a heartbeat, will no doubt cause a financial hardship.

Chris has served as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the San Bernardino County Fire Department for the past 9 years and is stationed in the High Desert of California. His demanding work schedule has him away from home days at a time, but he enjoys spending his days off with Nicole and teaching his little partner in crime Camden about all things concerning the Green Bay Packers.

Your generous donation will serve as two purposes, the first it will lessen the financial burden and stress the Arce family faces and second it will serve to raise awareness for this little-known uncurable disorder. The funds will be used for Camden's medical care, any medical devices, physical, vision and occupational therapies not covered by insurance along with basic daily needs for Camden including special formula or unforeseen expenses, to make what time is left memorable for this little guy and his family.