“We went in and the pediatrician goes, ‘You know, I’m not really sure what this is.’” – Kristina, Cameron’s mom

The bump seemed harmless. Cameron loved playing outdoors, and after his family spent a weekend outdoors at a local community event, it appeared to be a run-of-the-mill bug bite. Slap some hydrocortisone on it and his itching should stop. A week later, Cameron’s complaining continued. Still, his mom Kristina presumed his frequent scratching had caused the change in color. After another week, Kristina couldn’t ignore it any longer.

“We went in and the pediatrician goes, ‘You know, I’m not really sure what this is.’” said Kristina.

For an answer, they went to general surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Like Kristina, the doctor there presumed it was a bite, advising them to return in three weeks. When it persisted, they just wanted an answer, so Cameron went for an ultrasound. Almost immediately, the doctor knew this wasn’t some typical spider bite.

“It wasn’t fluid, it was solid, so the doctor said it’s time to come out,” said Kristina.

By this point, Cameron had spent so much time with his bump he nicknamed is Sparky. Kristina broke the news to Cameron that Sparky had to get removed. After a successful surgery, it seemed Cameron was in the clear. His family headed home, leaving Sparky behind. The next day, the doctors called Kristina out of the blue. She’ll never forget it.

“August 17, 3:15. They told me he had Ewing Sarcoma,” said Kristina.

Typically, Ewing sarcoma has already gone to the lungs or bone marrow by the time it’s caught. Thankfully, doctors caught the disease at such an early stage it hadn’t spread, giving Cameron a much better chance at survival. His chemotherapy treatment proceeded as planned with one hiccup: his tumor’s location.

“One of the challenges is because the cancer wasn’t healing in Cameron’s leg, doctors can’t get a proper scan,” said Kristina. “They’re assuming it was localized specifically to that area. We’re praying to God that’s the case, but until his leg heals we can’t scan anything.”

That lingering leg issue has sidelined Cameron’s sports fanaticism. Home runs, three-pointers and touchdowns, the language of sports is how Cameron connects with others. While his affinity for pro teams hasn’t waned, his playing days are on injured reserve for the moment.

The diagnosis impacted his sister Caidyn too, who’s adjusting to their parent’s increased attention to Cameron. Through it all, she’s remained his ultimate cheerleader and playmate.

“Because of the chemo, he can’t really run around since his leg has to heal,” said Kristina. “Caidyn’s learned to adapt by just hanging on the couch, playing a video game, coloring or making slime. She’s really stepped up.”

Kristina and her husband John placed a premium on family time when choosing Cameron’s treatment, opting to manage the chemo as an outpatient. They drive down to CHOP, then return home with hydration packs and an IV pump attached to fluids. It brings the realities of treatment closer to home, but it also gives them something to bond over.

Despite all the changes, 7-year-old Cameron has found blissful moments whenever possible. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) helped him secure tickets to a Philadelphia Eagles game. He even caught balls on the field and met his hero, quarterback Carson Wentz. Those are they experiences that carry Cameron through the tough times, like when he got mouth sores the week after that Eagles extravaganza.

Being blindsided by a basic bump that turned into a life-changing diagnosis has helped them appreciate places like ALSF even more.

“You see signs about supporting ALSF, but the biggest thing I realized is that you don’t think it could happen to you…until it does,” said Kristina.

When it did happen, they were glad ALSF was there.