Douglas and Cameron

Douglas Hamilton ~ Cameron Thomas
Brothers Forever


Faith......Family......Friends......

We would not be able to endure this long, challenging journey without our faith in God, and the love and support of our family and friends.
We will forever be grateful for your love and support!!
~ Doug and Tracie

Douglas and Cameron were diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome in May 2002. Sanfilippo syndrome, respectively, MPS III is an enzyme deficiency disorder. Children with Sanfilippo syndrome become mentally retarded, wheelchair bound, and eventually die from vital organ failure in their teens.

Up until about 2 years ago, there was no hope at all for these children. Now, a risky, experimental treatment is being done at Duke University Medical Center by Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg: A stem cell transplant with unrelated umbilical cord blood.

Douglas and Cameron both underwent the treatment in December, 2002. We lost our precious son, Douglas to a virus in July. He was courageous and brave. A pioneer, a hero who saved his little brother's life, and hopefully the lives of other children who have to undergo the horrific process of transplant.

Douglas taught us to love more in his 3 short years here on earth, than we would have learned in a lifetime without him. Our hero, our Dancing Angel...

We love you, Baby!!! We miss you so much!!!

Journal

Thursday, May 1, 2008 8:25 AM CDT

Happy May Day to everyone! It has been a long winter, and we are looking forward to some fun in the sun!! We've had a few glimpses of summer-to-come here in Colorado, and Cameron especially has embraced the warm days. Today, however; we are expecting rain with snow, so we Coloradoans understand the warm weather is just a teaser...

Where do I start??? Cameron has made leaps and bounds in so many areas of his life - I can't believe it. I have story after story to tell of the progress he has made.

Story #1

We were at the park the other day, and he took a shine to this little 2 year old that was playing on the slides. Out of the clear blue, he waited for this child to come down the slide, clapped for him, took his had to the next slide, "helped" him up the tall steps (by grabbing his sweatshirt - not well received by the 2 year old who yelled "I can do it!!"), waited for him at the top, guided him to go ahead of him, clapped for him again, and repeated the process for an entire hour.

Story #2

He is being honored with the FIZZ Award at school tomorrow in front of the whole entire student assembly. This is an award given to the child who showed exemplary behavior that week, and they are recognizing Cam for the way he handled himself during an altercation on the playground last week. I guess 3 of his classmates were somewhat “bullying” him by running in front of him and making a brocade so that he couldn’t climb up the slide. Instead of lashing out or scratching these kids, he tried every possible way to go around them. The children were properly disciplined and Cameron is being publicly praised – what a great school, huh?

What’s the award? A soda pop! Hence “the fizz.” Cameron will love it – I can’t wait for tomorrow…

Which by the way leads me to say what WONDERFUL people work at Canon Elementary. Dave, his Para, Trevor his SPED teacher and Mrs. McKeeman have all played an intricate part in his development, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have them in his life.

Story #3

He sleeps 11 hours a night. Currently working on “in his own bed” which would be ideal, but nonetheless, he sleeps from 8pm to 7am.

Story #4

He eats at the table.


Story #5

He has a dry diaper 80 percent of the time at school and goes in the potty for any teacher or Para that takes him.

I posted new pictures of him. Thank you all for checking in on the Camster. Your unending support is so very much appreciated. When someone comes up to me and says, “I read your journal,” it just makes me feel that much more supported and gives me a boost of confidence to know that I can keep going…

Love to all!!!

Tracie

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: HOME SWEET HOME

The Nicoll Family
623 Orion Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
719-447-9323

Links:

E-mail Author: tracienicoll@adelphia.net

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