He is a typical boy that loves playing video games. He is outgoing, talkative and very sweet! Camden's parents are both veterans and his father is still actively serving in the U.S. They are very proud to be a military family! Camden first experienced pain in his legs that was later followed by overall muscle weakness. He began having problems climbing stairs, rising from the floor, keeping up wit
h his siblings, running, jumping, sitting up, lifting his head and became extremely fatigued. We quicly realized something was very wrong. After one trip to his pediatrician we learned his ck was 25,000 along a few other abnormal tests. He was then sent to a neurologist and geneticist in San Antonio and was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This was devastating to our family. From there we asked to be referred to another neurologist in Dallas where Camden was then checked by a pulmonolgist and cardiology. He was discovered to have an abnormal EKG, sinus tachycardia and restrictive lung disease. He also immediately began physical therapy, put in leg braces, given a wheelchair for his quick progression and sent home with a cough assist to help with his lungs. Other the next few months Camden went through extensive testing, a muscle biopsy, echocardiogram, EMG, tons of genetic tests, numerous muscle exams and labs. He began to progress at such a fast rate, losing tons of weight and muscle around his chest arms and legs. He was now using the wheelchair constantly and was unable to do much. After numerous tests continued to come back negative for a certain type of dystrophy, we took Camden to a Reumatologist in Austin for a second opinion. He was almost convinced that Camden indeed had an unknown, extremely progession MD but was questioning the fact that he also presented with a few autoimmune disease like symptoms such a Raynaud's Phenomenon and rash with sun exposure. He sent off Camden's case and tests to Dr. Rider in DC and she had camden do a myositis antibody panel with two different labs. A few months later his labs came back positive twice for anti-srp polymyositis and we were quickly flown to DC to see Dr. Rider and her team and begin treatments. Camden has a very tough case that has involved his heart and lungs and caused a huge amount of muscle damage, however he is on very aggressive treatments that include high dose daily steroids, IVIG infusions, chemotherapy injections, daily immunosupressants, nexium and vitamins. He continues to wear leg braces and do twice a week physical therapy sessions. All the medications have caused stomach issues along with loss of bone density and an overlapping autoimmune thyroid disease. There is currently no cure and is life threatening condition. This page is for those who want to follow this little boy and his family's incredible and courageous journey. "Never let the fear of striking out get in the way."- Babe Ruth
MAILING ADDRESS:
Matthew Camden McAlpine
218 Lottie Lane
Harker Heights, Tx 76548
DONATIONS:
Donations for Camden's Person Medical Fund and Bucket List can be sent via paypal to [email protected]. If you would like to send a donation via postal service, please make checks payable to Matthew Camden McAlpine. Cure JM Foundation to help families and research for a CURE! http://www.curejm.org/donate/index.php
