It was a phone call that Glenn and Sharon Bulger will never forget. On Jan. 18, 2018, their sonB次元官网网址檚 school called to tell them that Cameron suddenly wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to speak or make eye contact with anyone.
B次元官网网址淲hen I got to the school and went up to Cameron, his gaze went right past me,B次元官网网址� Glenn said. B次元官网网址淲e were rushed to the hospital from there.B次元官网网址�
A CT scan at their local hospital in Surrey revealed that the six-year-old had a mass in the right frontal lobe of his brain. He was quickly transferred to BC ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital, where he underwent surgery that successfully removed 99 per cent of the mass.
But after additional tests, the family received unfathomable news: Cameron had an aggressive form of brain cancer, known as a grade IV malignant embryonic brain tumour. Over the next six months, he endured rounds of chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.
After his treatment, Cameron was declared in remission. But just months later, his cancer returned B次元官网网址� this time, it had spread to an inoperable part of his brain.
Determined to save their sonB次元官网网址檚 life, Sharon and Glenn explored all possible new drug trials worldwide, with the support of their oncology care team at BC ChildrenB次元官网网址檚. However, the disease progressed so quickly that ultimately, the one option left wasnB次元官网网址檛 available to him soon enough.
On May 16, 2020, two and a half years after he was first brought to the hospital, Cameron passed away peacefully, at home, surrounded by his loved ones.
Challenging the status quo
BC ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital is home to experts who are leading the way in treating the most aggressive cancers B次元官网网址� but even so, a devastating 20 per cent of children who are diagnosed with cancer will not survive the next five years. Cameron was one of the 20 per cent. As Dr. Caron Strahlendorf, Division Head of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant at BC ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital explains, so much more needs to be done to improve outcomes for children.
B次元官网网址淲e are very fortunate that weB次元官网网址檝e seen greatly improved cancer survival rates over the decades,B次元官网网址� said Dr. Strahlendorf. B次元官网网址淗owever, there are still children who are succumbing to their diagnoses or who live with life-long side effects as a result of the treatments used to heal them. BC ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 is determined to change that.B次元官网网址�
Philanthropy plays a powerful role in helping experts push the boundaries of whatB次元官网网址檚 possible in childhood cancer care, as well as countless other health challenges that kids face. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why , the hospitalB次元官网网址檚 fundraising arm, is on a mission to rally British Columbians in supporting the cutting-edge technology and groundbreaking research that are needed to conquer childhood illnesses.
B次元官网网址淒onors are so important to helping us advance research and improve care,B次元官网网址� explained Dr. Strahlendorf. B次元官网网址淔or instance, they help enable our team of scientists and clinicians to identify what is causing these children to react differently to treatments B次元官网网址� and to determine if thereB次元官网网址檚 something unique about their cancer that will enable us to take a more personalized approach.B次元官网网址�
For families like the Bulgers, it can bring renewed hope when itB次元官网网址檚 needed most.
B次元官网网址淲e ran out of time to save Cameron, but together, we have the chance to save other children who are diagnosed with rare and hard-to-treat cancers,B次元官网网址� Sharon said.
Interested in learning more about how you can support the fight to conquer childhood illnesses? Watch CameronB次元官网网址檚 story and to donate and learn more, please visit .
