When I first met my wife, it was truly love at first sight. I still remember that night vividly—the laughter, the spark, the instant connection. For me, those memories are a treasure. For Camre, though, they’re gone, a part of her life lost to circumstances we never could have imagined.
Seven years ago, we were expecting our first child, and our excitement was indescribable. The anticipation, the unknowns, and the nervous energy of becoming parents for the first time filled every moment of our days. At seven months, however, the joy took a terrifying turn. Camre began experiencing sudden complications that hit her like a ton of bricks. What we thought would be a routine hospital visit quickly spiraled into a nightmare.
We learned she had developed preeclampsia, and by the time we were admitted, she had already gone eclamptic and suffered a grand-mal seizure. The emergency C-section that followed brought our beautiful baby boy, Gavin, into the world at just 4 pounds 1 ounce. He was healthy, and in that moment, we felt blessed beyond measure. But Camre’s ordeal was far from over. She had suffered a stroke and lost oxygen to her brain.
When the doctor gently told me, “Steve, this is not easy to say, but Camre has suffered a severe brain injury. The damage is located on her memory lobes. Only time will tell, but for now, she has lost all her memories, both long and short,” my heart shattered. The love of my life, the mother of our son, didn’t know me—or Gavin. I was devastated. How could this happen so suddenly, when just hours before she had been perfectly fine? And as the reality sank in, I knew I was now responsible for raising our son alone.
The next day, at her bedside, I made a promise to Camre: I would never give up on her, on our family, or on the life we had started to build together. That marked the beginning of our journey. It took 25 days before she could leave the hospital and 35 for Gavin. She didn’t know who we were, yet she trusted me, and that trust became my anchor. At one point, she said, “I don’t know who you are, but I know I love you.” Those words have fueled me through every challenge we’ve faced since.
Our first year as new parents was incredibly challenging. Every day demanded patience, perseverance, and unconditional love. Gradually, she began to remember our names—mine and Gavin’s—and that first moment of recognition was nothing short of magical. Life was slowly returning to some sense of normalcy, and we cherished every small victory.
Then, just when we thought we had found our rhythm, Camre suffered another grand-mal seizure—then another, and another. In time, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Over the past six years, she has endured more than 400 seizures. The medications worked only temporarily, and adjustments had to be made constantly. Watching someone you love endure such relentless suffering is indescribable—it’s pure heartache. Recently, she underwent brain surgery to place electrodes that will help monitor and locate her seizures, another step in this ongoing battle.
Through it all, we have never faced these challenges alone. Our faith in God has been our foundation, and our hope for better days keeps us moving forward. Our family motto has always been simple yet powerful: never give up, and always stay positive. Despite the trials, we feel incredibly blessed. Our family has not only survived unimaginable hardships, but we have thrived, growing stronger together each day.
