sws4420
05-04-2005, 03:55 PM
By: Robert Cristo, The Troy Record 05/03/2005
COLONIE - After spending the last year adjusting well to a double transplant operation, 3-year-old Cameron Stackman has suffered a small setback in his battle to live a normal life.
The once tiny toddler who captured the hearts of many local residents with his struggle to survive a liver and small intestine transplant, was airlifted to George Washington University Hospital two weeks ago after showing some signs of rejecting his new intestine.
"He was really tired, not eating, had diarrhea, didn't want to be touched and wanted to sleep most of the time," said Cameron's father William Stackman, 26, of Colonie, over the phone from the hospital. "We called his doctor at Albany Med, and they re-hydrated him and ran tests, but they didn't find anything so they arranged for him to be sent here."
Doctors at Georgetown University Hospital discovered that Cameron had rejected his intestine and had come down with a virus that causes diarrhea and dehydration in children.
To clean Cameron's system, doctors prescribed using high doses of steroids and antibiotics over five to 14 days, depending on how the child responds.
Doctors say they were surprised because Cameron hasn't shown any signs of rejecting his transplanted organs in more than a year.
They also expect Cameron to recover from this latest setback.
"We knew something would happen sooner or later because he's gone so long without any problems at all," said Stackman, whose wife Amy was at her job in Colonie and keeping her fingers crossed and being supported by friends and co-workers.
Already, Stackman said he has seen signs of improvement in Cameron when compared to last week.
"He's talking and eating a little, and he's looking better, but he's not totally himself yet either," said Stackman. "Before he was whining a lot and didn't want to do much of anything."
Less than two years ago, the clock was ticking on Cameron's life as he waited for a match for a double-transplant operation.
Cameron's life was spared when a perfect match was discovered, and ever since, he's been making strides toward catching up to other kids his age and living a relatively normal life.
Last year, Cameron celebrated his third birthday by doing what would be considered mundane for most kids - getting on a bus and going to school.
Considering that Cameron was never expected to live past his second birthday, his father says watching him walk, talk, smile, play with toys and other children is nothing short of a miracle.
Before this recent setback, Cameron was finally beginning to catch up to other kids his age, which is far cry from being less than half the weight of a normal child and living with constant pain.
Despite his current medical problems, Stackman is confident Cameron continue his quest for normalcy.
Stackman said he wanted to thank the management at his wife's job for being so supportive during this time and to the Albany County Correctional Facility for Children's Benefit (ACCFCB) for helping out with day care costs for their other children.
ACCFCB leaders have been providing emotional and financial support to the Stackman family since before Cameron received his successful transplant, and organizers there said that will continue.
"Obviously we're not going to walk away from this family," said ACCFCB President John Smith. "We always think and talk about Cameron, and our hearts and support got out to them."
If all goes as planned, Cameron could be back home in the next week or two.
http://troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14457867&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6
COLONIE - After spending the last year adjusting well to a double transplant operation, 3-year-old Cameron Stackman has suffered a small setback in his battle to live a normal life.
The once tiny toddler who captured the hearts of many local residents with his struggle to survive a liver and small intestine transplant, was airlifted to George Washington University Hospital two weeks ago after showing some signs of rejecting his new intestine.
"He was really tired, not eating, had diarrhea, didn't want to be touched and wanted to sleep most of the time," said Cameron's father William Stackman, 26, of Colonie, over the phone from the hospital. "We called his doctor at Albany Med, and they re-hydrated him and ran tests, but they didn't find anything so they arranged for him to be sent here."
Doctors at Georgetown University Hospital discovered that Cameron had rejected his intestine and had come down with a virus that causes diarrhea and dehydration in children.
To clean Cameron's system, doctors prescribed using high doses of steroids and antibiotics over five to 14 days, depending on how the child responds.
Doctors say they were surprised because Cameron hasn't shown any signs of rejecting his transplanted organs in more than a year.
They also expect Cameron to recover from this latest setback.
"We knew something would happen sooner or later because he's gone so long without any problems at all," said Stackman, whose wife Amy was at her job in Colonie and keeping her fingers crossed and being supported by friends and co-workers.
Already, Stackman said he has seen signs of improvement in Cameron when compared to last week.
"He's talking and eating a little, and he's looking better, but he's not totally himself yet either," said Stackman. "Before he was whining a lot and didn't want to do much of anything."
Less than two years ago, the clock was ticking on Cameron's life as he waited for a match for a double-transplant operation.
Cameron's life was spared when a perfect match was discovered, and ever since, he's been making strides toward catching up to other kids his age and living a relatively normal life.
Last year, Cameron celebrated his third birthday by doing what would be considered mundane for most kids - getting on a bus and going to school.
Considering that Cameron was never expected to live past his second birthday, his father says watching him walk, talk, smile, play with toys and other children is nothing short of a miracle.
Before this recent setback, Cameron was finally beginning to catch up to other kids his age, which is far cry from being less than half the weight of a normal child and living with constant pain.
Despite his current medical problems, Stackman is confident Cameron continue his quest for normalcy.
Stackman said he wanted to thank the management at his wife's job for being so supportive during this time and to the Albany County Correctional Facility for Children's Benefit (ACCFCB) for helping out with day care costs for their other children.
ACCFCB leaders have been providing emotional and financial support to the Stackman family since before Cameron received his successful transplant, and organizers there said that will continue.
"Obviously we're not going to walk away from this family," said ACCFCB President John Smith. "We always think and talk about Cameron, and our hearts and support got out to them."
If all goes as planned, Cameron could be back home in the next week or two.
http://troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14457867&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6