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Cameron Laughinghouse 
Welcome to Cameron's Web Page. This page has been created to keep all those who are interested in following my childs journey through his battle with Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a form of childhood cancer that affects mainly the nerve cells. Cameron was diagnosed on December 18, 2001. He became increasingly ill during the month prior to his diagnosis. Cameron's pediatrition sent us to Duke the very next day on December 19, 2001. Cameron had two main masses - one on his right adrenal gland and one on his spinal column. He lost all ability to walk and sit up due to the spinal mass. The doctors felt they had to move quick due to the severe nature of his disease. They decided to procede with his biopsy and central line placement the very next day on December 20th. The very same night Cameron began his journey through the debilitating process of his chemotherapy treatments.
Cameron did well with his initial rounds of chemo but remained unable to move his legs due to the pressure of the lesion on his spine. The doctors placed him on extremely high doses of steroids to try and decrease the swelling. The steroids eventually began to work and Cameron began physical therapy to try and regain use of his legs. They told me that he might never use his left leg again. But Cameron proved them wrong. He eventually began sitting up, crawling, pulling to stand, and in May of 2002 my amazing son began to take steps again. Since then he has finished seven rounds of chemo and his first round of radiation. He had some stubborn areas on his bones the chemo didn't affect. So in August, he had both knees, both upper arms, his left hip, and his right skull area radiated. We were admitted the end of August to start the process of his Stem Cell Transplant. Cameron received his transplant using his onw cells on September 6, 2002.
Journal
Friday, August 8, 2008 10:23 PM CDT Another year has passed. Where do they go? Time seems to slip away faster as the years go by. I can't believe it has been a year since I sat here and wrote about my special Cam Man. This summer has been a great summer with the boys! We have definitely beached it alot and have the tans to prove it! I actually have loved all the outdoor activity - I didn't use to spend too much time outside with boys playing - sitting and watching was my style. In the past two years I have lost 120 pounds and feel great! My kids have definitely reaped the rewards.
My best friend, Jennifer, has twins who were Cams best friends. Watching those two grow and all the crazy things they do makes me think about how old my Cam would be. He would be 8 going into the 3rd grade. CRAZY!!!! Shopping for school clothes with Logan and Cody - who are insanely different people - makes me wonder what Cameron would be like. Would he wear surf clothes like Logan and have long hair, or be on the "redneck" side like Cody with a short and tight hair cut? What would my little man pick out for his school supplies. A cool, hip Quicksilver surf bookbag or a real tree mossy oak Redhead hunting bookbag! I know he would be His own person no matter what materialistic things he chose. He was always very true to himself and was very much just CAMERON! And what a special person he was!
I think I will always see him as my 3 year old big boy! Which has been really hard lately- Jackson is 4 and Landon is 3. They make me laugh out loud every single day! They also make me cry on occasion because they both have things about them that remind me of my brown eyed boy! Jac is very head strong like Cam and Landon is very much a lover like Cam - kinda quite but sneaky too! Jack has that raspy froggy voice that Cam was known to have. It melts my heart daily!
Jackson and Landon know all about their brother Cameron and love looking at his pics. They also enjoy taking balloons to the cemetary and letting them go to Cam and his other angel buddies.
All of my boys are growing up way too fast! Logan is 11 going into middle school, Cody is 10 going inot the 5th grade, Jackson is going to preschool this year, so it looks like for the first time in almost 12 years I will just have ONE child at home with me!!! What will I do? Landon is probably going to have brother withdrawels for a week or so!
My Cam is so near by everyday, I can feel him around me all the time! It is wonderful! I love his prescence and can almost smell him and hear his little voice! What a precious gift it is!
Thank you all for your support over the years and your continued support through thoughts and prayers. We should all continue to pray for the sick people of the world and their families! Pray for their strength and courage for we all know this is a fight of a lifetime! Pray their peace and acceptance of God's grace and mercy! Pray passionately for the doctors who serve them, that God will give them the wisdom they need to assist HIM in healing them from their disease.
Parents love your children! Listen to your children! Play with your children! Most importantly- never take them for granted! They are only here by His grace and can be called home to His side without notice!
In His name,
Monica
(Mommy to Logan, Cody, Jackson, Landon & my Angel Cameron)
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Heavens Gates
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