Clay Cameron Medical Fund
Donation protected
Instead of focusing on cats, video games, tech gadgets, coffee and Chinese food (a few of his favorite things), Clay Cameron, age 16, is focused on his need for a heart and kidney transplant to stay alive. Just two weeks after his 16th birthday, on March 29, 2018, Clay quickly became extremely ill. Tests identified that Clay had fluid surrounding his lungs, abnormal EKG results, and his one and only kidney was shutting down. Further testing revealed heart failure (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) that will require a heart transplant.
Clay spent the next month at Dell Children's hospital trying to stabilize his heart, while protecting his kidney, with medications. In April, Clay was airlifted from Austin to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston for evaluation for transplant.
Once admitted to Texas Children's, Clay underwent transplant evaluation and was approved. However, medications alone would not be enough to sustain adequate heart function while he waited for a heart, so on May 4, 2018, Clay underwent open heart surgery to have a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD or heart pump) and a pacemaker placed in his heart. Clay spent the next 2 1/2 months in the hospital recovering from this surgery. His chronic kidney disease made recovery from this surgery extremely complicated and difficult. Unfortunately, this is not a viable long-term solution, it is simply buying time until he can have a heart and kidney transplant.
Over the next few months, Clay and his family will be required to travel back and forth to Texas Children's Hospital to be followed by their heart failure clinic. Once he is medically stable, Clay will be placed on the waitlist for transplant and, at that time, will be required to reside within an hour of Texas Children's Hospital in Houston while awaiting a heart and for subsequent follow-ups.
This medical crisis has put an unbelievable strain on the Cameron family. With Clay being hospitalized from March to July this year, Jenifer had to suddenly quit her job to care for her son and Mike commutes back and forth from Austin to Houston many times a month to be with the family and often he even works from Clay’s hospital room. Expenses for meals, gas for traveling, parking, and lodging have accumulated for 5 months exacerbated by the sudden loss of one income. They still have a future transplant to finance with lifelong costly prescriptions and medical care. Established by friends of the family, this fund will be used to recoup some of those costs that have mounted since March and to finance the many more expenses to come.
Let's rally around them and remind them that none of us can bear this kind of catastrophic illness alone, but together, we can help ease their financial stress and allow them to focus solely on Clay's care and health. Even more than your financial support, the Cameron’s need your prayers for Clay's health, strength, and a future successful transplant.
On behalf of Mike (Dad), Jen (Mom), Blake (big brother) and Cole (little brother), THANK YOU for your generosity and supporting the Cameron family during their time of need. You can follow Clay's medical journey and receive updates here:
Clay's Caring Bridge Site
Clay spent the next month at Dell Children's hospital trying to stabilize his heart, while protecting his kidney, with medications. In April, Clay was airlifted from Austin to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston for evaluation for transplant.
Once admitted to Texas Children's, Clay underwent transplant evaluation and was approved. However, medications alone would not be enough to sustain adequate heart function while he waited for a heart, so on May 4, 2018, Clay underwent open heart surgery to have a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD or heart pump) and a pacemaker placed in his heart. Clay spent the next 2 1/2 months in the hospital recovering from this surgery. His chronic kidney disease made recovery from this surgery extremely complicated and difficult. Unfortunately, this is not a viable long-term solution, it is simply buying time until he can have a heart and kidney transplant.
Over the next few months, Clay and his family will be required to travel back and forth to Texas Children's Hospital to be followed by their heart failure clinic. Once he is medically stable, Clay will be placed on the waitlist for transplant and, at that time, will be required to reside within an hour of Texas Children's Hospital in Houston while awaiting a heart and for subsequent follow-ups.
This medical crisis has put an unbelievable strain on the Cameron family. With Clay being hospitalized from March to July this year, Jenifer had to suddenly quit her job to care for her son and Mike commutes back and forth from Austin to Houston many times a month to be with the family and often he even works from Clay’s hospital room. Expenses for meals, gas for traveling, parking, and lodging have accumulated for 5 months exacerbated by the sudden loss of one income. They still have a future transplant to finance with lifelong costly prescriptions and medical care. Established by friends of the family, this fund will be used to recoup some of those costs that have mounted since March and to finance the many more expenses to come.
Let's rally around them and remind them that none of us can bear this kind of catastrophic illness alone, but together, we can help ease their financial stress and allow them to focus solely on Clay's care and health. Even more than your financial support, the Cameron’s need your prayers for Clay's health, strength, and a future successful transplant.
On behalf of Mike (Dad), Jen (Mom), Blake (big brother) and Cole (little brother), THANK YOU for your generosity and supporting the Cameron family during their time of need. You can follow Clay's medical journey and receive updates here:
Clay's Caring Bridge Site
Organizer and beneficiary
Toni Christopher
Organizer
Waller, TX
Jenifer Cameron
Beneficiary
