Keeping Cam’s Memory Alive
By Sarah Shields, Cam’s Mom
From the moment that I found out about Cam, he became the most important thing in my life. I was so excited to be his mom. After a very difficult few days in the hospital and a traumatic birth experience, when Cam was handed to me, he nuzzled right into my arms. He knew I was his mama and that pure love we shared will always be a part of me.
Cam was born prematurely at 28 weeks. About a day after his birth, he was diagnosed with a complex and rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Essentially, the left side of his heart was severely underdeveloped. After living and showing an immeasurable amount of strength, Cam passed away, at five days old, laying in between his dad and I. I will never forget the last kiss I gave him after he took his last breath. I wish more than anything that this wasn’t my story and that I could have my sweet boy back.
In August of 2020, Cam’s little brother Benjamin was born. We are so fortunate to have Ben and we are grateful for his life everyday. Since having Cam, my husband and I advocate on behalf of bereaved parents, especially in the congenital heart disease community. We have shared our story at public speaking events, including at the U.S. Capitol and started the fundraiser “Cam’s Cards,” which has generated thousands of dollars for NICU families. We do all we can to keep Cam’s memory alive.
