March 31st, 2008 - Small steps
Cameron enjoyed his weekend recovering at home and finally started to feel better late Saturday as the chemo had really flattened him up until then. However, late Saturday afternoon Cam declared he was well enough to attend his friend Matt’s birthday party. So off we went for the last hour of the party. He is a determined boy I give him that and he enjoyed his time there even though he could not participate in the hyperactive game of hockey with cardboard rolls and a sock with 15 boys in3 teams sliding across indoor tiles trying to score goals! On Sunday he enjoyed his time at church, although he had to attend in his wheelchair, but was happy and feeling a whole lot better. Then after a few hours resting at home off we went to join our group of friends at Gabby and Rod’s. 12 boys ranging in age from 5 to 16 enjoyed each others company and Cameron was so happy to be able to go and enjoy his time with the friends who have come to mean so much to him.
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Today was another milestone with Cam heading off to school for a morning again. He was nervouse going this time and he really feels different to everyone and things that are important to other children just don’t seem to bother him anymore. Sadly he is in a different world to them and talks about chemotherapy, inserting canulas, central lines versus ports, different types of scans and how they work, not to mention a range of childhood cancers. When I told his teacher today that in some ways he is 11 going on 20 at the moment she reckoned that he was more mature than some 20 year olds! He loved his Art lesson and Maths of course and was happy to help out in PE taking himself in his wheelchair to the oval while the others got fit and practised for Athletics. He is also experiencing the reality we all do at some stage when we discover that someone we believed was a true friend is no longer the person we thought they were, but he is also blessed with having made so many new friends and has such a deep faith now that none of this appears to really bother him anymore. It wasn’t long ago that he would have had his heart broken over something like this.
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The best news of the day was that I finally managed to talk Cam into taking a walk on the beach after telling him the sea was so flat with no waves for boogie boarding… His eyes lit up and he said “Yes, I can feel the sand on my toes”. So Gran, the three boys and I went to Mooloolaba after school. Carlton and Owen could not resist and ran straight into the sea. Cameron rubbed the sand all over his feet and had such a big grin, wading into the sea, stepping in a little further at a time and turning to smile at me as he savoured the experience. He went up to his thighs and after a short while decided it was time to go. So off we went for an icecream and sat in the picnic area.Â
He looked great this evening and cheered when I told him it was his last steroid tablets until his next cycle on the 14th! He feels so good that he said, “Ah no it is chemo tomorrow!” Yes we are back in Brisbane for Day 8 of Cycle 3 – the last day of this cycle, for some more chemo. Thankfully though it is just a day trip.
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I can lie down and go to sleep, and I will wake up again, because the Lord gives me strength. Psalm 3:5 NCV
March 31st, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Hello Cam and Leigh
You make me jealous going into the sea till your thighs oh I do wish I could come and visit, but someday soon. The snow has stopped here now and today was a lovely spring day its funny the difference in the temps now and in winter, the sun is much warmer. Hope all worked out today and that you dont feel to bad, our thoughts are with you, put skype on then we can talk. lots of love Dee Martin Manuella and Kenneth xxxx Sweet dreams!
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Hi Cam,
It’s your cousin Cagz from South Africa! You are looking great! You are such a strong, brave boy! All of us in SA so proud of you! Uncle Ian is here from the UK and he told me about this site so I went on and it’s so great to see you all! Now we can be updated almost everyday on what’s happening “down under”! Glad to hear that you went to the beach and went in the sea! I haven’t been in the sea in years, even though we are only 30 minutes away! I think I am a bit scared of the waves! HE
My mom and dad and sister are in Cape Town at the moment on holiday and they are at the beach everyday! Anyways Cam, I better get back to work! My mom, dad, brother, sister and me all send our love to you! We are all thinking of you and are with you spirit! Keep smiling! 
Love you all lots and lots! Cagz PS. Send my love to your mom, dad and your brothers!
April 4th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Cam,
Howzit going? Hope the next round of chemo is going well master. How about those Sharks beating the Reds mate? Even though we had 16 players on the pitch at one point in time…haha Pity the Sharks couldn’t play like that when we went to watch them that one time hey. Anyways keep well and speak soon. God Bless.
Kenneth, Shaz, Jade and Joel