Camron was only 15 years old. On April 20, the young boy took his last breath at his home in Méru (Oise), surrounded by his family, in his dad’s arms. “He didn’t want to go to the hospitalremembers Sébastien Nadouhis dad. He was on the couch. I had my hand on his heart which I felt beating. Before I felt it stop.» Cameron died as a result of pediatric cancerdetected a year and a half earlier, in November 2022. After an eighteen-month fight, the outcome of which was unfortunately a foregone conclusion, Sébastien decided not to give up, and to continue what he started. By creating the association Cam’s Fightthe father first wanted to make Camron’s dreams come true. Today, he wants to share his experience with parents in the same situation. And why not help research, so that a real treatment is finally found.
“The doctor tells us ‘go home and make memories’”
Pediatric cancer can affect anyone, at any time. “It could be a cousin, a sister, a best friend, anyone could be affected.», confides Sébastien. For him, everything started in November 2022. “Camron had nausea, loss of balancehe says. One day, he had one eye half closed, we thought it was a stroke. The next morning, while playing in the garden, he fell. He couldn’t get up anymore. The firefighters came. He was sent to Beauvais hospital.» After a CT scan then an MRI, a lump was spotted in his brain. Camron is only 13 years old. At this point, no name is put to what the boy has.
The family was sent to the Amiens hospital center, to the oncology department. “Here we begin to understandcontinues Sébastien. Everything is falling apart.” Over several days, Camron took a battery of exams. In the meantime, his parents are also trying to find out what’s wrong with him. After a biopsy, the ax falls. Camron has an infiltrative brainstem glioma, a brain tumor. “The doctor tells us that he will die from this diseaseremembers Sébastien, still moved. On the Internet, we see that there is no solution, that life expectancy is a year or two. There the doctor tells us “go home and make memories.”
Eighteen months lived to the fullest
For a year and a half, until his last breath, Camron was surrounded by his family. Working in events, particularly in the nightlife industry, Sébastien spends his days with his son. “Even if he didn’t like it, I hugged him, told him I loved himhe remembers. We learned to enjoy life to the fullest. Every day, every hour, every minute, it was more. Every smile, every laugh was worth taking. It’s priceless. We experienced everything intensely.»
Over eighteen months, the disease slowly progressed. Paralysis on one side, imbalance, speech becomes heavy, swallowing problem… Until this Saturday, April 20, 2024. “He had a resurgence the day beforetestifies the father of the family. But during the night he had difficulty breathing. At 11 a.m., he suffered his first cardiac arrest. When he came back, we talked about it with him, I told him “you see you died, but you came back!”. But in the afternoon he died. In my arms.»
Cam’s new fight
If today Sébastien seems peaceful after this fight of a year and a half, the pain of the loss of his son remains deep and anchored within him. But his new fight helps him move forward. “We want to take over to overcome the difficulties we encounteredhe explains. So that people who are in this situation are helped in their procedures, to do their shopping, to have psychological support… We are not prepared to file a file with the MDPH (departmental house for disabled people, editor’s note) ! We are also trying to set up a network of health professionals with nurses, a doctor still in school, and an osteopath. And we would like to bring psychologists, physiotherapists or psychomotor therapists into the association. Every seed sown can help a family, and perhaps ultimately save a child.»
In addition to supporting families, Sébastien would also like to do his part to advance research into pediatric cancer. Research that is not progressing enough for his liking. “If I manage to raise enough funds, I will try to seek out American researchers, and invest in two years of research on childhood cancers in a private laboratory, not on an adaptation of cancer treatment for adults to children..”
A first event on February 15
And the father would like pediatric cancer to be just as publicized as breast cancer is with Pink October. And that in September, pediatric cancer month, the gold ribbons are just as visible as the pink ribbons the following month. “School children could create them and they would be displayed around townhe tries. People would be made aware, and children would tell their parents about it..”
Before that, a first day will be organized on Saturday February 15 at the Manufacture room in Méru, on the occasion of International Pediatric Cancer Day. On the program, numerous activities for children: escape game, Fifa tournament, Olympics, presence of a magician… A first great day to raise awareness of the association and its fight.
Later, Sébastien would like to organize Olympic games with all the sports clubs of Méru and surrounding towns. Or even take back Christmas trees in December. “We have already started a toy drivehe specifies. We want to organize a magical day for everyone, sick children and their parents.»
This new fight started by Sébastien and his family will last much more than a year and a half. It may not result in a historic scientific discovery. But he will at least have the merit of helping to try. So that no parent ever hears a doctor say “go home and make memories“.
