ST. LOUIS – When St. Louis doctors found Camille Fernandez they gave her just two weeks to live. Now, thanks to a huge group effort, Camille is recovering at St. Louis Children's Hospital and has a great chance at a full life.
It was in November when Carlos Martinez's Tsunami Waves Foundation teamed up with the Pujols Family Foundation in an effort to complete a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Doctors, dentists, orthodontists and pharmacists, along with a group of volunteers, set up free clinics in Martinez's hometown of Puerta Plata. On the final day, they met 18-year-old Camille.
Family members told doctors that Camille had relapsed with her cancer that fall. They discovered Camille was suffering from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. And it had progressed tremendously.
“When I first met her Dr. Rob said, “I don’t know how she’s still alive," said Marisa Diaz, program director for Tsunami Waves Foundation who also served as a translator on the trip.
Dr. Rob Hanson of St. Louis' Mercy Hospital was the one evaluating Camille. He determined she was in dire need of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant -- all treatment that was unavailable to her in the Dominican Republic. Without such treatment, Dr. Hanson believed she had less than a month to live.
That's when countless people sprang into action to get Camille and her family to St. Louis; volunteers from Tsunami Waves, Pujols Family Foundation, Mercy Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Wings of Hope, Ronald McDonald House, all helped to get Camille and her brother and sister to St. Louis this past week for a life-saving bone marrow transplant.
Camille's sister, Heidi, is a perfect donor match. They both had their operations on Thursday, completing the bone marrow transplant. Both were a success. While Heidi was discharged the following day, Camille is still recovering.
Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, Camille now has a 70 percent chance at a full life.
“Our family is happy too she is able to receive treatment here. It’s God’s miracle," said Ramon Fernandez, Camille's brother.
“If it weren’t for those doctors that came, my sister wouldn’t have had any hope because our doctors didn’t give us any possibilities," added Heidi.
Feel compelled to help Camille and her family? Tsunami Waves is taking monetary donations to help with medical expenses. The St. Louis Cardinals have also offered to be a central drop off location for Men's L-XL and Ladies M-L new or gently used winter clothing at 700 Clark St, St. Louis, MO 63102.