Page 75 - Southern Oregon Magazine Winter 2020

CAMERON’S STORY

For all who serve, there are recipients. Cameron benefited from the generosity of those who sup-
port Children’s Miracle Network.

Cameron, a 17-year old runner and basketball player from Klamath Falls, was concerned with
ongoing knee pain. After seeing an x-ray he asked, “Mom, does this seem normal?” Debbie, an
x-ray tech, knew something was horribly wrong. A biopsy yielded the diagnosis of osteosarcoma
in his left distal femur. With no pediatric oncologists in Klamath, Cameron and his mom made
the long drive to Doernbecher’s in Portland for three months. Then they learned of Dr. Ellen
Plummer at Asante in Medford. The shorter drive was easier and enabled Cameron’s friends to
visit, something he desperately needed.

The family is forever grateful for Asante’s incredible support and Dr. Plummer, who became like
family. He discussed books and movies with nurses, and he taught one of them to play cribbage.
They celebrated his birthday, complete with balloons and root beer floats.

He missed his prom, so when he returned home his friends, with their quirky teen humor, put
together the Sarcoma Square Dance, complete with Western wear and lots of laughter.

Cameron and his mom have gone deep with the inevitable why-me questions, but his strong faith
emerged stronger. Cameron’s life has been irrevocably changed, as he learns to live with the loss
of six inches of his femur and his knee, learning to live with a prosthesis. With his new I-can-do
attitude, he will make it.
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