CAMDEN'S STORY
On March 20th 2016, our third baby girl was born. We named her Camden Irene Manning. She was born 6 lbs 9 oz 21 inches long, beautiful full head of hair and blonde just like her mother. The nurses cleaned her up and handed us this amazing baby girl. We fed her, kissed her, rocked her, everything a parent looks forward to doing those first few hours after birth. Then after those first few hours, Camden began showing signs of distress. One test would lead to another test and then to another test which went on for three days. Before we knew it, we were told Camden had to transfer to a different hospital for more testing. The life we had lived up to this point, the struggles of our past, everything that led us to this moment, we would soon refer to as “The simpler times". Our lives would never be the same.
Camden was then taken by ambulance to Children’s Hospital of Detroit. She was scheduled for surgery the very next morning. They would discover a problem with Camden’s intestines. This would now require another surgery to disconnect all of her large intestines and almost ½ of her small. We would soon become experts on her disease. This is a disease that has no cure. A disease that could affect her overall development. A disease that will require continuous care. A disease that will require future surgeries. A disease that will affect her the rest of her life. This disease is called Hirschsprungs Disease. Camden's specific type is Total Colonic Hirschsprungs Disease Aganglionosis. We would then spend the next two months in the NICU watching her gain weight and then lose it. She would get sick, and then she would recover. Each day was a new challenge…not only for Camden, but for Vanessa and I as her parents and now caregivers.
On May 19th 2016, Camden Irene was discharged from Children’s hospital. We took her home to join her two sisters who missed us dearly. The last three years have proven extremely difficult. We have wrestled with so many unforeseen complications. With multiple ER visits, and a few surgeries, we now know we will struggle for years to come. With our faith, our friends, and our family, we know we will overcome anything.
