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Cameron McKenzie & Ben StewartBoys with Duchenne myopathy
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- The Story of Cameron McKenzie and Ben Stewart
- Fulfilling Wishes and Creating Joy
- A Race Against Time
Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Cameron McKenzie and Ben Stewart are two young boys who suffer from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare and progressive muscle disorder. Despite their disease, Cameron and Ben continue to dream and their parents are determined to help make those dreams come true. Their parents, Cheryl and Alan Stewart, are raising funds to fulfill a variety of wishes for their sons, such as visiting Australia and meeting the hosts of the popular car show 'Top Gear'.
The Story of Cameron McKenzie and Ben Stewart
Cameron McKenzie, eight years old, and Ben Stewart, nine years old, are stepbrothers who share the unfortunate fate of living with the same rare disease. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is an inherited muscle disorder, and the prognosis for both boys is extremely unfavorable. Cameron is already confined to a wheelchair due to the disease, and his parents believe that his older brother will soon face the same fate.
Cameron and Ben have been best friends since they were diagnosed with the disease in early childhood. Their parents, Cheryl and Alan, rekindled their relationship after many years apart and got married in 2011, making Cameron and Ben stepbrothers. It is an incredibly rare and heartbreaking coincidence that two stepbrothers, with different biological parents, both suffer from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Fulfilling Wishes and Creating Joy
Cheryl and Alan, along with their younger daughters, six-year-old Phoebe and two-year-old Leila, are determined to make Cameron and Ben's lives as joyful and fulfilling as possible. They have created a list of all the things the boys want to do and places they want to visit while they still have time. This list includes meeting the 'Top Gear' team, spending their dream vacation in Australia, and celebrating Christmas with Mickey Mouse.
Cheryl, who now devotes all her time to taking care of her sons, believes it is crucial to fulfill their wishes and have no regrets in the future. With the knowledge that there is no cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the family knows that the boys may not live to adulthood. However, they are determined to ensure that they have lived a happy and fulfilling life until then.
A Race Against Time
Cameron and Ben have already received financial support from the 'Make-A-Wish Foundation' to travel to Lapland in early December. Both boys were on steroids to slow down the progression of the disease, but the side effects became too severe, leaving them with no alternative but to stop taking the medication. Unfortunately, this decision has had a significant impact on Cameron's spine, causing a severe curvature that could potentially harm his lungs and heart.
Alan, who works as a graphic designer, knows that difficult times lie ahead for the family. Therefore, he is doing everything possible to make his sons' dreams come true before they require respirators, feeding tubes, and other medical interventions. Time is of the essence, and the family is determined to make as many dreams a reality as they can before it's too late.
