A Bright Spot in our Lives
“For all the issues Cameron has, he’s the happiest little guy you could ever meet,” says Cameron’s mother Richelle.
Although Cameron showed all the symptoms of Leigh’s Syndrome at birth, he wasn’t diagnosed until age 2. Now 8, Cameron has a twin brother named Carson and a 10-year-old brother named Connor. His brothers love him to pieces and don’t think they’re missing out on anything because of their brother’s health issues. In fact, Cameron is Connor and Carson’s biggest supporter. His parents, Mike and Richelle, take Cameron to all of his brothers’ soccer and hockey games.
Cameron was referred to Bloorview Kids Rehab shortly after being diagnosed and receives physiotherapy, dentistry, nutrition and saliva management services. “The dietician we see is just great,” Richelle says, “ever since we’ve been seeing her, we’ve been better able to manage his seizures.”
Leigh's disease is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder characterized by degeneration of the central nervous system. Symptoms of Leigh's disease, a rapidly progressive disorder, usually begin between the ages of 3 months and 2 years. In most children, the first noticeable signs may be poor sucking ability, loss of head control, and loss of previously acquired motor skills. These symptoms may be accompanied by loss of appetite, vomiting, irritability, continuous crying, and/or seizures.
“He battles through everything and anything and comes out smiling,” says Richelle, “because he’s non-verbal, he can’t communicate his feelings, but when he smiles his whole face lights up and his eyes sparkle.”
Richelle attributes Cameron’ sunny disposition to all the love and care he receives from family and friends.
“We just believe that he’s here and he’s supposed to be here and it’s OK the way it is,” Richelle says.
