Cameron Dalene 10/29/91 - 9/02/06

Welcome to our Cameron's web page. We want to keep our family and friends updated on his progress in this fun way. Cameron was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on 11/1/00, just three days after his 9th birthday. He endured 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy threatments at Yale/New Haven Hospital and was off treatment on 4/22/03. We moved to Santa Fe, NM in July.
Unfortunately, he relapsed on 12/9/03 and immediately began re-induction chemotherapy. This time he was treated at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Abuquerque, NM. The doctors told us the best treatment would be to have a bone marrow transplant. Our family was tested and it was discovered that Chad was a perfect match. The bone marrow transplant took place at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on 4/1/04. We were back in Santa Fe, NM on 6/1/04.

After a clean bill of health from CHOP on March 22, 2005, Cameron got the bad news on April 11 that the leukemia had returned. He had to undergo chemo therapy, again to attain remission. He was admitted to Denver Children's Hospital on August 2, 2005 to undergo a stem cell transplant. He received Chad's stem cells on August 9, 2005.

After things were going well and Cam was home and looking forward to returning to school, a bone marrow biospy showed that the leukemia is back. He took part in a study at the Children's Hospital of Denver in an experimental drug to try to attain remission with less toxicity than the traditional induction. His leukemia was greatly reduced but he did not reach remission so we returned to UNMH to have the standard induction chemo. He did go into remission so the next plan was to go to St. Jude for another stem cell transplant. This time it will be with a haplo, or half-matched, transplant. Derek has been selected to be his donor.

During a pre-transplant work-up, it was discovered that Cam had a mass of aspergillus fungus in his left lung. It had to be removed surgically and followed up with intensive IV antifungal medications.

On April 24, Cameron had a major sepsis episode, had to be resuscitated and sustained severe pancreatic and liver damage. He was in the hospital for 1 month. During that time, he wasn't able to receive chemo therapy to keep in remission and he relapsed for the 4th time. At the current time, June 6, 2006, he is on another chemo drug trying to get him into remission. His liver and pancreas continue to improve. Cameron went to be with the Lord on September 2, 2006. we miss him greatly.



Genesis 28:15 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Any tax deductible donations can be made to the Cameron Dalene Fund
First National Bank of Santa Fe
62 Lincoln Ave
Santa Fe, NM 87501

A song that has touched our hearts is by Mark Schultz and is called "He's My Son". If you want to hear it, go to
http://members.aol.com/sunnyasalways/SUNNYSHESMYSON.html

Journal

Monday, May 19, 2008 3:50 PM CDT

We were shocked and dismayed to hear that a friend of ours lost her life suddently on Friday. Susan Smith was a 28 year old mother of two small children and the wife of a navy man. She has dealt with severe diabetes for years but we don't know what caused her death. Her family attends our church. She was a loving, fun wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend. Her memorial service was beautiful but difficult as we watched Eric holding his little 4 year old boy and 10 month old daughter. He was surrounded by a big family of wonderful people but none of them live around here. They live in Missouri, Florida and Kentucky. Please keep them in their prayers as they begin to face life without Suz.

The memorial service was difficult, too, because it was the first such service I have been to since Cameron's celebration service. All of a sudden, my memory and emotions were right back on that day. I don't think that will ever fade with time.

I got a call last week with another job offer in Norwich so I am back to work. However, I had already made plans to go see my mom and dad (& Derek) so I will be doing that this week. I'll be leaving on Wednesday and returning on Memorial Day. I wish Chad and Ed could go with me but it didn't work out this time. Pray for me as I go. It will be difficult for me to see mom as she is for the first time. I will really focus on dad and giving him some extra moral support. It will be wonderful to see Derek and Nikki and the rest of my family there.

Hospital Information:

Our home
40 Twin Lakes Dr.
Waterford CT 06385

Links:

E-mail Author: ldalene@sbcglobal.net

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