Community rallies behind stricken Enterprise youth

By Staff
HIGH SPIRITS Cameron Turner, 3, son of Crystal and Floyd Turner of Enterprise, recuperates after surgery in October at the Children's Hospital at University Medical Center in Jackson. Submitted Photo
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Nov. 22, 2002
Cameron Turner celebrated his third birthday on Sept. 9 at the Children's Hospital at University Medical Center in Jackson.
At the time Cameron's illness was unknown. By the end of the month, he was diagnosed with a rare and dangerous disease called Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
Cameron is the son of Crystal and Floyd Turner of Enterprise.
Cameron's father said his son had seen three pediatricians before being diagnosed with a form of diabetes.
Later, Floyd said doctors determined Cameron's pituitary gland was not fully developed. Then doctors decided he had a tumor on his pituitary gland and performed surgery to remove it in October. A biopsy revealed Cameron has Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
The disease is a disorder in which histiocyte cells that are part of the immune system migrate to tissues where they are not normally found and damage those areas. The disease has now caused problems with Cameron's liver.
Although the disease is not cancer, it has many of the same characteristics and is treated like cancer, often with chemotherapy or radiation. Cameron is taking chemotherapy treatments in Jackson.
Pulling together
Cameron's community has rallied with his family to help the youngster fight the disease.
Rummage sales have already been held and a bank account was established in his name at BankPlus by his aunt, Rachel Davidson.
Mary K. and Paul Kidd of Enterprise, members of Pine Hill Baptist Church where the Turners attend, have been pounding the streets of Meridian and other communities selling $5 tickets for a fish fry to help pay Cameron's medical expenses.
The fish fry will be held at the Enterprise Fire Department on Saturday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A bake sale and rummage sale will also be held.
Mary is already baking items and freezing them for the sale.
Fighting histiocytosis is also personal for Wilma and Gary Allen of Stonewall.
Their 11-year-old daughter, April, was diagnosed with the disease shortly after her first birthday.
April was treated with chemotherapy and has been in remission since 1994 but the disease caused her to develop a type of diabetes. She continues to get annual check ups at the Children's Cancer Clinic at University Medical Center in Jackson.
Wilma has been a part of the Histiocytosis Association of America for many years. She mails out information about the disease to families faced with it. She said she was shocked when she learned of a case so close to home in nearby Enterprise.
Wilma has sent information to the Turners and she has spoken to members of Pine Hill Baptist Church who wanted to learn more about the disease and the costs associated with it.
How to Help
A fish fry, rummage sale and bake sale to raise money for Cameron Turner's medical expenses are scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Enterprise Fire Department.
The Cameron Turner Fund has also been established at BankPlus. For more information call Mary K. Kidd at 659-7975.