Moray schoolboy gives back to epilepsy medics after life-changing surgery
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A BIG-HEARTED schoolboy who underwent brain surgery to treat his epilepsy has shown true kindness after forgoing birthday presents to help others.
Lewis Cameron was aged just 7 when he made the daunting journey to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh for an operation to remove the area on the surface of his brain causing his seizures.
Just over two years on, the Moray family have returned to the hospital where a healthy and happy Lewis handed over £845 to assist others facing a similar ordeal.
The cash was raised when the Kinloss Primary pupil held a 10th birthday disco, but asked for donations instead of gifts.
Janice Fyall, epilepsy surgery nurse specialist with the Scottish Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery Service, said: "Lewis has always shown such courage and determination to fight epilepsy and not let it define him.
"To go through his surgical journey with him was a privilege and to see him two years post-surgery, seizure free, developing and achieving is very special to the team.
"We were delighted to hear that Lewis decided to DJ at his birthday disco and donate all money raised, in place of birthday gifts, to our service. Thank you to Lewis and his family for this amazing gesture!"
Lewis was just 6 when he began suffering seizures due to an abnormality called Frontal Cortical Dysplasia, which he had since birth, but had gone undetected.
It couldn't be controlled by medicine and Lewis would regularly collapse without warning, falling down stairs four times. It affected his life on a daily basis, leaving him exhausted and nauseous.
In August 2017, surgeons removed the affected part of his brain and he has been seizure-free ever since.
Lewis, who dressed as DJ Marshmello and used his own decks at the disco, said: "I'm really proud of myself for being brave for the operation and I hope other people can be as lucky me. I'm really grateful for everything all the nurses have done for me.
"The charity disco was super fun and I'd like to do it again! Thank you to everyone who gave money. I really hope other people are helped by it."
Mum Sarah Roger said the surgery, possible due to the position of the affected part of Lewis's brain, had completely changed his life.
She said: "It has given him back his freedom, as we don't have to worry so much about his safety. He also gained a lot of energy and is more able to concentrate on school again.
"We are so grateful for the help he was given, as the outlook for his future was worrying. We were warned that things could deteriorate for him because the part of his brain affected gets used more and more into adulthood and his seizures were likely to worsen as this area grew.
"The surgery was equally terrifying, with all the risks involved. I'll never forget that day, sending my baby into brain surgery.
"Lewis loves drumming, DJing, playing guitar and is such a character. It's amazing to see how far he has come. We are very proud of the amount of money he raised and very thankful to everyone who donated."
Dad Garry Cameron added: "All the way along we hoped Lewis wouldn't have seizures after surgery but they told us not to hope for that, that it was more about reducing them and managing it, so it is absolutely amazing that he hasn't had any.
"Every step of the way Lewis was really brave but he put his trust in the family, and in the neuro surgery team. More recently, as he has grown older, he has started to realise what a big deal it was and he's talking about how lucky he is to be alive and appreciate it all."
Adding her praise was little sister Pearl (8), who said: "I'm very proud of my brother."
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