Ronald McDonald
House of Akron

He was having symptoms generally associated with the flu: tiredness, upset stomach, lack of appetite.  His mother, Jennifer Cameron, decided to take him to the emergency room at Fischer – Titus Hospital in Norwalk, Ohio.  Within 45 minutes of their arrival, and with no preparation emotionally, Jennifer was asked where she would like to have Corey life-flighted:  Akron or Toledo.  In the confusion of the moment Jennifer remembered the doctor saying the words “leukemia” and “bone marrow cancer”.  She also remembered that just after Cory was born, he was treated at Akron Children’s Hospital, and Jennifer recalls being impress, so the decision about where to life-flight him was made. In fact, Jennifer had stayed at the Ronald McDonald House sixteen years ago when Cory was an infant.

Cory was subsequently diagnosed with the high-risk, Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and he was in need of a stem cell transplant.  A match, unrelated donor was found and on August 18, 2009, he was admitted to Akron Children’s Hospital.  He received his bone marrow transplant on August 27, 2009 and was discharged to the Ronald McDonald House on September 30th.

In the case of an allogeneic transplant (one in which the stem cells are from a sibling or an unrelated, matched donor), the patient is hospitalized for about 35 days.  Upon discharge, they must reside within a thirty minute drive to Children’s Hospital until “Day +100” post transplant.  This is the time when the risk of infection and rejection of the graft is most critical.

He and his mother stayed at the House until December 5, 2009. The staff and Board at RMH had to make adjustments in order to provide a home away from home.  Through a coordination effort between the staff, the Board and the stem cell transplant team at Children’s, room 108 at the House was transformed into a self-contained living quarter.  The room was cleaned extensively, a drop leaf table was purchased for Cory and Jennifer to eat meals on, an existing daybed was moved into the room to make a sitting area, and a sweeper and a microwave were provided for their use only.  The hospital provided a small refrigerator, and cable was installed along with a TV and DVD player.

Arrangements were made so Cory could receive the first helping of every meal: due to his fragile immune system, he could not have any leftover food or anything from the snack table that was not prepackaged.  The Day Room downstairs was repurposed as well: the hospital found a tutor for Cory and the former Day Room is now his classroom, complete with computer access for his laptop.
His mother said that his disease and treatment caused him to mature in a relatively short period of months.  It has also changed the way he looks at life.  Before his diagnosis, he wanted to be an auto mechanic.  He now wants to be a nurse.  In a sign of his new maturity, he told his mom, “I don’t want anything for Christmas this year, I just want to be home with my family”.

Today, Cory is doing amazing.  He recently had a bone marrow test and that showed no cancer and he is in complete remission.   While he is still being home schooled, he hopes to return to school in the fall. Cory, his parents and sister Alexis are getting ready to go to go to Disney, a trip recently provided by the Make-A Wish- Foundation.