I've Got Mail....

I am overwhelmed! I was just thinking about "Cameron's Story" today after a friend had asked where to find it on my blog. After coming home from picking Cameron up from school, we received another ongoing bill from the hospital! If you have not read Cameron's Story...you really should. It is a great testimony of how AWESOME God is and how He is working in our life!


I open the bill (two pages) looking over all the cat-scans, x-rays, labs, and panels they did on him that chilling day. Then I turn to the next page..............

I start tearing up and have to turn to the boys and explain where the tears were coming from....another MIRACLE! Our total bill from the hospital was $14,358.00!! This doesn't include the bills from the X-ray tech, Doctors, and ambulance. I still have not totalled them up yet as they were still coming in 5 months after the accident. Anyhoo, this $14,358.00 bill was paid by CHARITY! We paid, that night at the ER...$250.00 for a discount. Other than that...completely GONE!! That's right...the balance........$0.00!!! I am going to frame this and hang it in my office....I know the Lord can and does do God-sized miracles...don't ever doubt it!
That is why I am overwhelmed....overwhelmed by God's Grace!








Cameron showing the paid for bill proudly!

Romans 15:13...May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Have you praised God today?

Awaiting another miracle!

Yes, the Mason's are awaiting another God-sized Miracle! It is a continuing miracle from Cameron's story. A God-sized FINACIAL miracle! If you want to enjoy a chuckle, a misty-eye, on-going miracle of God... scroll down to the bottom, and Cameron's story will be found in November writings or look for "Cameron's Story" on the label list.

Patiently waiting..... A big update is here...the wait is over!! Have you heard God's latest miracle in our family?

Holding on...

Thanks to everyone for being patient reading Cameron's story. God has been with him from the beginning...so that is where I wanted to start! I know His work is not done yet in his life.

When your waves come crashing in. Who do you turn to? Whom do you seek for comfort, for peace? I am so grateful for Cameron's life. I am so grateful that the Lord let him live. I am so grateful for 3 healthy boys! I am excited to see how the Lord will use Cameron and his story in his life. Pray for your children. That is our duty as a parent. My heart breaks for the parents who lose a child. May the Lord give you peace that surpasses all understanding!

Until next time....Have a blessed day!

The Hospital...To Health...The finale....

We arrive at the hospital...I have to go sign papers. I'm a mess! Crying the whole time I sign papers, just wanting to be with Cameron. The nice man behind the desk asked if we had insurance, "No". He told me that's okay. "We have some programs to help out. If you can pay $100.00 tonight, we will knock 40% off your total bill." Are you kidding me...I would beg for $100.00 if we didn't have it to get 40% knocked off. Thank you Lord. As I am praying I am also praising God.

I know what it is like to "Michael, (hug), Your here!!". My wonderful husband at last! He saw the mess I was in. He had me sit down and he went to see Cameron. He was wonderful with him. That is an understatement! He made Cameron relax a little. He even made him smile. What a gift to have a husband not to panic like me...to remain calm and collected! He was absolutely awesome with Cameron! Cameron was getting very uncomfortable on that stretch board...I felt so sorry for him. His little body had been through so much and now he has to be strapped to a board that is hard as a rock! ...

The Doctor finally came in and told us he would need to do 3 cat scans, 2 x-rays, and blood work and IV. They wanted to do a scan on Cameron. I began to praise God in the midst of a storm. He is working!

Mom shows up just as I walked out from signing papers. I think Michael was sick at home that day...just so Mom would know she IS needed! Tara stayed behind with Caden and her kids. I go in. I just cannot handle seeing my little boy strapped down like he is. I muster enough strength to walk up to him. Even after a couple of hours Cameron is still un-responsive other than a faint yes or no. I look into my little boys eyes. They were big. I asked him if he was scared. He said he was. I told him, "Mommy is scared too, but everything is going to be fine." He could not take his eyes off of mine. I teared up... he teared up. I could tell him seeing my face red, blood-shot eyes...it was really bothering him. Mom saw it too. He would not take his eyes off of me! He is so sensitive towards how I feel, especially if it's not good. My mom stepped up and I stepped back.

They did a scan on his head, neck, and stomach. He was complaining of a headache and side hurting. Five, long hours later, Cameron strapped down this whole time, the test results came back. My sister walked in. Uncle Rodney is with Caden. The Dr. told us Cameron had a mild concussion, swelling of the brain, and a bruised liver (high enzyme count). He told us how when Cameron was not breathing...his body shut down. He said it's like a computer that crashes...it had to be re-booted. It was to protect him...his brain. Do you know how amazing our bodies are God gave us?...They are efficient!

The rest of Cameron checked out good. No broken bones, no internal bleeding...Falling 9-10 feet up...and nothing else wrong! God is good! The Dr. told us we really need to watch Cameron through the night. We were to wake him up every 2 hours and ask him questions like, "who am I", "what is your dogs name?" We had to watch for some serious signs that could occur and if so, we were to bring him back to the ER. Cameron did great! What a night! A true emotional, exhausting roller-coaster. Will these images ever stop flooding my mind? How horrific to think about day and night.

The next day consisted of neurological testing with his pediatrician. Everything checked out good. We were to come back in 10 days to do another liver test. He was pretty sure that it was caused by the fall. He wanted us to wait, so it could heal itself. I told him the story. He said, "breathing in his mouth was the best thing we could have done. Kids hearts are strong, if we can just get him to breathe. It's called rescue breaths!" I asked Mom, 'How did you know to do that?" She said, "I didn't". Thank you God for answered prayers...his liver was healed when tested. Thank you Lord for using Grandma Alma! What a miracle...the Lord allowed Cameron to live! My Mom said, "God has something big planned for Cameron". (That's what I've prayed for.) Telling Cameron's story...my hairdresser and friend she said the same thing. "Satan is out to get him, but God saved him. God has big plans for Cameron."

John 10:10 says, " A thief comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance." Satan is the thief! He is real, he wants to destroy us, our children, our families. But God has a plan. He has come that little Cameron my have life and have it in abundance. You, my friend too can have life.

Looking back: We took a class at church about raising boys. The first class everyone went around and introduced themselves and each told how many times they had been to the ER. Cameron was around 5 then. We were the only family, out of ~15, that had never had a visit to the ER! I piped up, "we have called Poison control", feeling a little left out. Can't say that anymore! Boys = ER.

Update: The ER visit cost an astonishing $14,358.00! We paid $250.00 of course (Although I was thinking it would cost around $3000.-$4,000...never been to the ER remember?) They are now trying to say we were to pay the $100 that night and the balance in 30 days...I don't think so!! Michael and I were told the same thing by two different people. We are still waiting for another miracle here!

Today Cameron is a healthy boy! He is smart, funny, compassionate, and a super boy! Cameron told us after the accident: "When I tried to get up, I just couldn't...I blacked out...I didn't have enough strength." As for me, the Lord has allowed me to not dwell on the past...so the pictures in my memory do not come up very often anymore...thank goodness! Only good pictures...like the one of him singing praises to the Lord!

As for the trees...we will leave them to the birds. (For now)

Have you prayed for your child today??

The Tree...Cameron's Story...continues...Part 4

...Adrenaline kicks in...my mom and I jump up and run outside...Running to him a few feet away...he is holding his side, wanting to cry, but cannot...then collapsed! He just got the breath knocked out of him...he's okay. (I'm thinking) By the time I got to him, (30 seconds after it happened), his eyes were rolled back into his head, face pale. Flat on his back, not responding! Not thinking clearly, I grab his arm... desperate to get him to talk to me and pulled him up...It was like a newborns neck rolling back. My sister yells, "no, lay him down". He is not breathing...OMG(not in vain, but in need) he is Not BREATHING! At this point panic in me has set in... "Call 911!"

I hear my sister is on the phone calling 911, Caden, his brother, is outside along with Sharee. Devin finally is down from the tree. "I tried to get down fast...I couldn't get down very fast,"he said... concerned for his cousin. The kids each came up to me and said, "Is he okay," I told each the same answer..."Go inside and pray." I start yelling, crying, begging... "please Lord help, please! Lord I need you!" At the same time I was crying out, I was stroking Cameron's hand, wanting some kind of reaction. "Cameron, talk to mommy!!" This cannot be happening...it's a dream right?? Michael, oh my gosh....he's at home sick...I need you Michael.

Next thing I know... my mom is breathing into Cameron's mouth several times...he came to for a minute. Thank you Lord!...Then, he stopped breathing again. My heart sinks! My mom picked him up, like a baby cradled in her arms and was thinking, but keeping to herself, "there's nothing else we can do." I was thinking: Cameron was just saved and baptized last month...is this why he was? Is he gonna die Lord? All who were there...thought he was dying.

Something inside Grandma, told her...do it again...one more time. Grandma laid Cameron back down and breathed into his mouth one more time. He came to. Thank you Lord. "Cameron, it's mommy, can you hear me?"...No response. I am crying, getting louder. Thank goodness...I hear the ambulance! NO.........No!, the ambulance just passed Grandma's house! Please we need help! We are reassured by the 911 operator that it was not our ambulance, but ours was on the way too. When?? Not fast enough!

Suddenly, it seemed out of nowhere a man approached us. He was a First Responder. He asked Cameron some questions and he responded with a faint yes. Can you move Cameron...no. He was not moving. Thinking back...oh man we picked him up, what have we done? Being certified in the past with CPR...didn't help THIS mom who is in panic mode. However, he was trying to go to sleep, I knew he shouldn't...

The ambulance...finally...sigh of some relief. I back off a little and let them do there job. "Cameron please stay awake honey. You can't go to sleep okay? Cameron, Cameron open your eyes. I love you Cameron." I held my hand over his face as the sun was beaming down. They noticed that his pupils were the size of a pin-point. So tiny...why? The sun was hurting his eyes. He still has not moved, other than his lips and eyes. Those very little! Then, they asked him if he could move his toes. They moved!....HOPE! Tara gets Michael on the phone, he is on his way. (45 minutes away...ugh!)

"Do you want to take him to the hospital?" I don't know, what should I do? "He's gonna be okay right?" The EMT replies, "Well, it's up to you but there could be some internal damage, we don't know." Why do I have to make this decision alone. No, we don't have insurance...but yes I want to make sure he is okay! "Yes! Let's go." One of the EMT's came over to me after I talked briefly to Michael. He was trying to gently reassure me. The flood gates just opened up. I apologized for crying like that with him, "It's the stress getting to me!". I get into the ambulance while they are loading my precious boy. He just celebrated his 7th birthday, 3 days before! Oh man, I can't lose you Cameron. I start praying again. The driver was really nice and tried to talk to me. He said he was fixing to have a baby boy. I congratulated him and told him, "DON'T let him climb trees!" All the while I have one ear in the back listening to the EMT's, trying to keep Cameron awake. Making sure he is still okay......I can't get over how unresponsive he still is.

Miracles Do Happen: ...The Tree...Part 3

Sunday, July 20, 2008 was a beautiful summer day. After loading the kids in the car and kissing my husband goodbye...(leaving him with a migraine), we headed off to church. We love our church and our Sunday visits to Grandma's house!

This particular Sunday, seemed to be our normal routine. With the exception of leaving daddy home. :o( We eat, clean-up, and play a game of Shanghi...(fun card game). As for the kids, they go in the computer room and play games or chase outside. My Mom was talking about how she wanted to move...again! I'm thinking...Oh boy, here we go again. (How many times have you moved??) She wanted to be somewhere that is warm and sunny in the winter. She told us that we didn't need her, we would be fine. I chimed in: "mom, I need you, and what about your grand kids...they need you." Little did we know, just how much we would need Grandma, even on this very day!

The cousins had spent quite a bit of time on the computer so we sent the lil ones out to play. It happened to be pretty hot in the kitchen/dining room that day, so for once we decided to move our card game into the living room. It has a huge window so we could still watch the kids.
It turns out that this move was not just a coincidence. As I looked up I saw Cameron and his cousin Devin in the tree. Cameron is getting really high I think to myself. (9-10 feet off the ground) Cameron loves climbing trees! I looked back down as it was my turn to play. The next thing I know...I look up and in what felt like ...s..l..o..w... motion Cameron is falling out of the tree.....my heart races...NOOOO!

Click here to continue to part 4.

Cameron...Part 2...God still working!

Fast Forward 6 1/2 years:
Tap, tap....hmmm I can't get this rewind to work. H..O..N..E..Y ...I didn't want to fast forward this quick!

Sunday, June 15th, 2008 is a special day for the Mason Family. This day after several years of curious questions and inquiring about Jesus/God, after a week of VBS...Cameron gave his life to Jesus! I just knew he was getting close! Glory to God! Cameron told us he was ready to ask Jesus into his heart. We knelt by the bed...Dad, Mom, and Cam and he said the sinners prayer. During invitation at church Cameron didn't hesitate to go forward. This was a big accomplishment considering we go to a mega church and Cameron is a little on the shy side. As for his shyness, prayers are being answered, he has come a long way.



VBS with his favorite cousin!








Baptism:
Cameron had heard about a special baptism day planned during VBS. It was going to be in a couple of weeks. Pastor Floyd would be doing all the baptisms, it would be at CPH, and under the 3 crosses. A couple of weeks was good for Michael and I to make sure he understood, once again, what had happened and to answer any questions. The children's pastor also met with Cameron and asked him many questions and went over salvation/baptism very thoroughly.

June 29, 2008 Cameron was baptized. It was a record breaking day for our church. There were ~150 people baptized this day. We really appreciated Grandma Alma, Aunt Tara, his cousins, and his brothers coming to show there excitement/support for him. Afterwards, Cameron said, "man, when I was under the water it was so cool, I just wanted to stay there!" Daddy knew just what Cam was feeling...he said he felt the same way. It just felt so good...right. Isn't God Amazing!

Mark 10:13-16...Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them.

Church of Pinnacle Hills

Please say a prayer for Cameron's Christian walk of faith...

A picture of God's Grace...Part 1

A little peak inside my journal...dated Oct. 30, 2000.

"Well, I have some exciting news!...What a blessing and a miracle in our life. Something I've waited for, prayed for, and dreamed of all my life. I'm going to be a mom...I'm pregnant!!"

9 Months Later.... Cameron Michael Mason was a miracle from God! Finally, arrived July 21, 2001 at 5:25 a.m.. He weighed 7 lbs. and 13 oz. , and was 21 inches long.

Birth Story: short version...
Two weeks over due, Petocin started, amniotic bag busted, back labor kicks in, listening to my relaxation music, sitting on an exercise ball, and Sis taking an after birth bottle and filling it with hot water rubbing it on my back...thanks sis! Epidural..... Michael's scrubs falling to his knees...while he is spread eagle holding my shoulders so I will not move...hee hee. Epidural not working, medicine to relax...upset don't like medicine! Mom by my side...Knew something was wrong but they wouldn't tell me...they just wanted for me to rest...couldn't. A long 23 1/2 hours and suddenly Cameron was ready to enter the world. Whew!

The room was full of nurses and doctors and specialists! A lot of concerned faces in the room. Dr. could not take her eyes off of the monitor because heart rate was dropping...meconium present in amniotic fluid. God was at work in this young baby's life. After making his way into the world, with a cord around his neck, I only got to see Cameron for a second....literally 1 second...as the nurse held him up and they immediately went to work on getting him to breath. Precious little Cameron was whisked away while new mom, exhausted with no sleep for over 24 hours, wondering why can't I hold my baby? Why isn't he laying on my chest? What's next?
Michael said a very special prayer that day. We knew our precious one was a gift from God. We also know that Cameron was His and we gave Cameron to the Lord that day. I prayed diligently during my pregnancy and after for the Lord to use Cameron for his glory and His purpose. To make him a mighty man of God...
After 4 hours of sleep, a blessing in disguise, Cameron was finally able to be in our arms. I know if I had not fallen asleep, it would have been too much for me to handle, not knowing why my baby was not with me, what was wrong, and what was going on? I woke up to God's mercy! Cameron was healthy! No meconium in his lungs! Praise the Lord!

Wow...look at my hair roots...eww and Michael's facial hair!

Ahhh, the best part.... Cameron my sweet pea! Hard to believe he had black hair!

4 hours after delivery... getting to hold Cameron for the first time
God has a plan....Cameron made it through his traumatic birth.

Down Memory Lane.....I can remember being 16 years old driving to town one day I prayed...Lord just let me live until I have a baby. Please! I want to live until I have a baby...I love babies. I'm so glad God doesn't answer some of our prayers...our way! I'm thankful to be alive!