Local Teen Keeping His Spirits High After Heart Transplant
A local teen has received a second chance at life and plans to make the most out of it. Cameron Cavins, a student at Moline High School, has experienced more in his 16 years than most have in a lifetime.
When he was almost two years old, Cameron’s doctor discovered a heart murmur. While that may be common in many young children, what the Pediatric Cardiologists found in Cameron wasn’t so common. Cameron was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. DCM is a condition in which the heart’s ability to pump blood is decreased because the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged and weakened. In some cases, it prevents the heart from relaxing and filling with blood as it should. It is a very rare condition to be found in children.
Latasha Eggers, Cameron’s mother, says it was “a very emotional day” when they found out about their son’s condition. She says it was “heart breaking because it wasn’t anything they could fix.” Cameron was put on medication and informed he would have to eventually receive a heart transplant.
The new diagnosis for this young man was a life changer. Cameron loved playing sports, including soccer and baseball, but was informed he would not be allowed to play sports after the age of 12. The fear that his heart would not be able to handle the extra exhaustion was the main concern for the doctors.
From the age of 2, Cameron visited his Pediatric Cardiologist every six months. While at a regular check-up this past April, news came that no parent ever wants to hear. Now 16 years old, the Moline High School student’s heart was failing, and it was time for a new one. Cameron was admitted to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and was placed on the donor list.
While in residence at the Ronald McDonald House near Lurie’s Children’s Hospital, the big day finally came. Cameron received his brand-new heart on May 22. Then came the strenuous journey of recovery, recuperation and the hope of avoiding rejection. The family is still residing at the Ronald McDonald House and taking every day as an opportunity to show gratitude and appreciation for organ donors, the doctors and staff, and their family members and friends back in the Quad Cities trying every way they can to help them get through.
With Cameron’s parents having to miss so much work over the past couple months, friends of the family have joined forces to create the Cameron Cavins Heart Benefit. The benefit will take place on Saturday Sep 14, from 2 – 7 p.m. at the Rock Island Moose Lodge (4410 9th Street Rock Island). Raffles, live auction from Stenzel Auction, 50/50, food and DJ will all be available to help raise funds for the family. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2272050986346606/.
In the meantime, the family also had a PayPal account set up to help raise funds. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so by sending payment via PayPal to: Camsbenefit@gmail.com.
Cameron Cavins looks forward to returning home and seeing his friends, as soon as he can. He is working hard every day to recover and keep his spirits high. He has made it his goal to come home healthy and take full advantage of this second chance at life. After having to miss the last four years of what he loves most, sports, he hopes to eventually join the Moline High School basketball team! Cameron is currently on 15 different medications, including rejection pills, to assure a healthy recovery. While this amazing young man has a long road ahead of him, he continues to keep his head high and his heart full.
Cameron Cavins Heart Benefit
Saturday Sep 14 from 2 – 7 p.m.
Rock Island Moose Lodge (4410 9th Street Rock Island)
Raffles, Live Auction, 50/50, Food and DJ
PayPal:
