Cameron’s Story

Grateful for Proximity

After an x-ray and numerous tests, it was clear that 17-year-old Cameron Caldwell had a tumor—osteosarcoma to be exact.

For Cameron, a high school senior, this was challenging timing. His athletic passion took a seat on the bench while he embarked on a seven-month treatment regimen.

Throughout this process, Cameron endured limb-salvage surgery and intense chemotherapy to combat his disease.

He received most of his care from Dr. Ellen Plummer at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center; an experienced doctor who became a very special person to Cameron and his family.

Cameron’s parents are thankful for supporters of this department and helping make it “a little more like home” for them during Cameron’s visits.

On June 30, 2019, Cameron departed Asante Rogue Regional cancer-free and full of gratitude.

Update on Cameron

On October 30, 2021, Cameron and Dr. Brian Gross, an Asante cardiologist got the opportunity of a lifetime: to climb one of the largest structures in the Rogue Valley.

Dr. Gross won the bid for the Oregon Wine Experience’s “Climb the Crane” package during the 2021 OWE virtual auction and chose to bring Caldwell along for the journey. The main attraction of the package included the opportunity to climb the Andersen Construction crane that is helping build Asante’s new medical pavilion that will house a new women’s and children’s hospital as well as a cardiology department and oncology department.

Cameron is now a junior in pre-med at the Oregon Institute of Technology and plans to become an oncology doctor. Before his cancer, he wanted nothing to do with medicine “because it all grossed me out,” he said. But then he met Dr. Ellen Plummer, Asante pediatric oncologist whose skill and caring spirit carried him through his treatment. “Once I got into it and saw how much doctors can put an impact on a life of a patient, I was like, this is it. This has to be it,” Cameron said.