Teen who beat cancer remembers supportive community
ZANESVILLE, Ohio- His story captured the hearts of the community of Dresden. Now seven years later his story continues to inspire others.
“I just can’t stress how strong he is.”
It was seven years when Cameron Taylor told his mom his leg hurt. They noticed a growth on his leg and soon found it was osteosarcoma or in other words bone cancer. The single mom found herself being strong for her family, but she wasn’t on the journey alone.
“Then I think the community, I mean so many people came. You know, the school got involved,” said Consuelo Massey, Cameron’s mom. “ And then the news got involved and then the papers got involved and then he got cards. You know just from everywhere. And people were coming up so I think that helps.”
That community support became needed when Cameron learned he would lose his leg to keep the cancer from spreading. But Cameron didn’t let that slow him down.
“So the day after I got my leg amputated, I was up on crutches walking around,” said Cameron Taylor. “And I’ve been through so many legs and it’s just like this I just learned to overcome it and look at it as a positive instead of a negative.”
As Cameron’s story began to spread through the community, the Amicone family wanted to find a way to help. They brought Cameron in as one of the Fieldhouse Foundation kids providing him with free rehabilitation therapy.
“It started out just as us wanting to try to help him and then, in the long run, we formed a really close relationship with him and with his family,” said Alainna Durfee, Mick Amicone’s daughter, and The Fieldhouse Marketing Director.
Cameron echoed Durfee’s sentiments about being family. He said Mick Amicone was like a father to him during that time.
“As soon as we got here he [Mick Amincone] made us feel at home. Like my mom felt comfortable to just let me do with him whatever we needed to get done. And so it just very warming place to be,” Cameron shared.
“Yesterday, we’re standing at the front desk and in walks this 15-year-old boy that looks like he’s 18 like he had never left,” said Durfee.
Cameron and his family moved to Florida a few years ago, but their connection with the community hasn’t ceased. Cameron continues with yearly check-ups to make sure he’s still cancer free. For now, the teen said he’s focusing on school and his future
“Nothing’s stopping me now,” Cameron proclaimed.
