Our story began in June 2021 when our four-year-old son Cameron started having balance issues and struggling with everyday activities. After a rush to Boston Children’s Hospital, we learned he had a large germ cell brain tumor. It turned our world upside down.
Cam began treatment immediately—two rounds of chemo, followed by surgery to remove the tumor. We were grateful they got it all, but the recovery was difficult. Cam lost the ability to talk, walk, and eat. He spent six weeks at Spaulding Rehab with little progress, followed by more chemo, a G-tube placement, and proton radiation at Mass General. Despite complications—seizures, blood clots, and more—he slowly started to recover.
By Fall 2024, Cam was playing soccer at school, telling jokes, and doing things we weren’t sure he’d ever be able to do. He works harder than anyone we know, and his spirit inspires everyone he meets.
Then this past spring, after a normal day of school and play, Cam couldn’t stand up. Tests revealed a new and different cancer—osteosarcoma in his right tibia. Two cancers before age 10. We were devastated.
Once again, our world was put on pause. I had recently returned to work as a public-school special education teacher but had to leave my job to care for Cam full-time through treatment. With two daughters at home, now 11 and 14, we’re doing our best to hold things together emotionally and financially.
He’s now undergoing treatment again: two rounds of chemo, surgery with a donor bone, and four more rounds of chemo. It hasn’t been easy, especially after everything he’s already been through, but he’s recovering well from surgery and we’re hopeful to complete treatment by the holidays.
Cam has now rung the bell twice, successfully completing his second round of chemotherapy and is now at home with his family recovering.
