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Sixteen-year-old Cameron Williams has battled chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome for more than two years. The mysterious disease, which causes exhaustion that can't be relieved by rest, has forced him to leave school. Date published: 9/2/2001
He salvages what he can of his teen-age years by keeping in touch with friends through e-mail. Subject: Birthday BashDate: 5/21/01 From: Cameron To: Mina "I had my b-day party yesterday. It was great. I feel really, really crummy today, but it was worth it." For Cameron Williams, the decision to indulge in his own 16th birthday celebration was a calculated risk. There was no wild party. Just a few hours of fun with cake and presents, he knew, would ravage his body. He'd spend days recovering--battling muscle aches, fever and exhaustion. "But I can't waste away in bed," said Cameron, who suffers from chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. The mysterious disease causes unexplained fatigue and flulike symptoms that can't be relieved by rest. It affects as many as 800,000 people in the United States, according to the CFIDS Association of America. There is no known cause or cure. Cameron was happy to make the birthday tradeoff. It was a luxury he did not have when he first got sick more than two years ago. Back then, he spent all day in bed, leaving his North Stafford home only for doctors' appointments. He was so ill that his mother, Rebecca Whittington, worried he would try to commit suicide. "I found myself going to the door in the middle of the night to make sure he was just sleeping," she said. Although CFIDS seems to be loosening its grip on Cameron, doctors don't know if he will ever fully recover. Meanwhile, the disease has forced him to leave school and give up normal activities. E-mail helps him keep in touch with a handful of teen-age friends--friends whose lives are now much different from his own. Subject: Turkey Day Date: 11/21/99 From: Robert To: Cameron "Things have been pretty busy. I'm so happy! I got a B+ in Geometry!Hope to see you soon, and if I find a moment to breathe, I'll call you." Cameron's life was once as busy as Robert's. He was active in band, the chess club and schoolwork. He read books, rode his bike and hung out with friends. That changed just weeks before his 14th birthday. On the way home from a springtime pool party, Cameron told his dad, Gary Williams, that he felt like he was coming down with the flu.
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