Home Runs Happening Off the Field June 29, 2011

Cams always gets excited about baseball. When we’re at home, we know he will smile instantly if we say things like “throw the ball!” or “swing and a miss”. I’m writing this post because I felt like I needed to get a message out after watching Cam’s baseball game over the weekend.

It was no shock to see Cams extremely excited and making lots of noise at his Friday night game. I hung out with him in the dugout where he was busy watching a couple of people playing catch. After the national anthem, I was wheeling Cams back to the dugout and Cams started clapping with the crowd and some of the other players. During the games, Cam’s signature move is to take his hat off and put it back on when he gets to third base (quite the show off). After the game, someone asked for a high five, and he gave them one with a smile on his face. These all sound like normal, everyday type of actions for a baseball game — which they are. That’s exactly what got me so excited.

After the game ended, I was in my car thinking about how much fun Cams had during the game (he has the greatest smile that you can’t really just walk away from without thinking about it later). I was so proud of him just for putting his own hat and glove on! Seeing him do those things brought back a lot of memories from Cam’s past that I couldn’t ignore.

When I first learned about Cameron’s condition, doctors said he had the cognitive ability of a 16-month old, and that was about as far as he was going to get. It seemed like he would never be able to act like a “normal” kid at any point. Even though putting a hat on seems like a simple task, it feels AWESOME to see him do it by himself.

Small things like putting a hat or baseball glove on keep me hopeful that Cams will be able to do so much more. For 12 years, he’s proven doctors wrong time and time again. As if his improvements with comprehending and remembering weren’t enough, I’ve seen him prove doctors wrong with their biggest prognosis; his life expectancy.

For years, our family was told that Cams wasn’t going to make it through the winter. I can’t tell you what it’s like to hear that statement once, let alone multiple years in a row. It’s never something that you ever get used to hearing, but it is something that, after hearing it a few times, you just want to roll your eyes at the broken record. No matter how upset, frustrated, or confused I was about what was going to happen, Cams ALWAYS had a smile on his face. The thought of him being gone and not being able to see him so happy is the most terrifying thought that I ever have. Unfortunately, the reality is that it won’t ever go away; it’s something that is always at the back of my mind. Luckily for me, I’ve been able to focus my energy on keeping that smile on Cams face, and reaching out to as many people about his condition that I can.

I wish that all who read this could meet Cams and see exactly what I’m talking about. My goal with this post is to reach someone who is impacted by anyone in a similar situation, and remind you to never give up hope. If you aren’t going through the situation yourself, let someone else know that you are there for them however they might need it. Most of the time, all that someone needs is an ear that will listen. As long as you open up, there IS support for you! If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from Cams, it’s to never overlook even the tiniest victories. Keep in mind that small steps lead to big changes!