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Miracle tot needs help to celebrate his survival

by Sue Carr
5/11/2008

A MIRACLE tot has amazingly beaten the odds to reach his fifth birthday – but the brave toddler now has nowhere to hold his party.

Two years ago, Cameron Longden was diagnosed with a tumour on his brain stem.

He underwent surgery, but suffered complications which left him with severe cerebral palsy, unable to walk or talk and with water on the brain.

He has had more than 20 operations and bouts of chemotherapy, he even ‘died’ briefly when his heart stopped during treatment.

But, despite being close to death on numerous occasions, the brave youngster has amazed medics by continually bouncing back.

Doctors were so convinced Cameron was going to die that mum Kimberley blew her savings on an early birthday bash in August.

"It’s a huge milestone for us," said Kimberley, of Penrith Avenue, Ashton. "He was in hospital for 15 months and every day they said to us ‘he has 24 hours to live.  The doctors told us he wouldn’t be here for his birthday or Christmas but he still is, and the closer it got I thought I couldn’t let it go by without doing something."

Kimberley, 21, has already received donations for food and entertainment, but is yet to find a venue.

She said: "I’ve already written to lots of places but got no replies. There should be about 130 people coming so it needs to be quite big, but it can be anywhere, I’m not fussy!"

Cameron is currently taking a mild chemotherapy drug which doctors hope will stop his tumour growing until after Christmas.

"I do have days when I get upset, but it’s out of my hands now" added Kimberley."We just have to take each day as it comes."

Kimberley hopes to hold Cameron’s birthday party on either 22 or 30 November.

Anyone willing to help can contact her on 0785 1539071.

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