Let’s take a trip back to 2008. Cameron was born November
26, 2008 through an emergency C-section after 26 hours of labor. He was 7lbs
14oz of beautiful. My pregnancy and his birth should have clued me in to the
fact that he was going to be a tricky one. During his first year, we had many,
many issues. He projectile vomited every day, all day. I’m not talking little
bit here and there, I’m talking poltergeist, pea soup, spinning head puke all
day. He didn’t grow or gain weight. He was finally diagnosed with moderate
dysphagia and Eosinophilic Esophagitis. He was then put on a very expensive
elemental formula. Things began to get a little better. Then he dropped off the
charts. Two weeks before his second birthday, we had to place a gtube to get
him back up to weight. It worked. Around this time he was also diagnosed
autistic. He had been nonverbal until he was 3.5. We had to teach him sign
language just to communicate. We had in home therapies; 4 a week. Then we also
did outside therapy. He attended developmental preschool for 2.5 years. He has
undergone 20 endoscopies, 7 surgeries, and numerous elimination diets where all
he could eat is sugar. He has sensory processing disorder and has lost many
foods.
That brings me to today. Last week we had Cam’s case
conference for kindergarten. He is no longer eligible for an IEP. Think about
that for a minute. My former nonverbal, autistic, falling off the charts boy,
has beat the odds and will attend a normal kindergarten class. They all were
amazed at his progress. He has tested out of speech and occupational therapy.
The kicker…. They say he will be going into kindergarten ahead of 90% of other
kindergarteners. HE WILL BE ADVANCED!!!! I am so elated!! I just can’t believe
it. We did it. All my research, fighting, and patience has finally paid off.
The things my little man can do astonish me every day. He
can add and subtract, he is eager to learn to read. He can write his whole name
with a little cuing on spelling. He knows nearly every dinosaur known to man. When
I say knows, I mean specific genus. You can’t say pterodactyl. It’s a pteradon.
He knows their names, where they live, what they eat etc. He is also one of the
most compassionate boys I know. When he sees someone who is hurt physically or
emotionally, it pulls at his heart. I will never forget the first time he cried
for someone. It was for Pluto. We were watching an episode of Mickey Mouse
where Pluto was being left out and Cameron just balled. He was sad that Pluto
was sad. He just did this this week too to a scene in Frozen. He always wants
to include and be included. He has such a huge heart. I couldn’t imagine a world without him in it.
He is destined for great things. As of now, he wants to use his gifts to be an
engineer. I can’t wait.
