On May 13th, 2024, we welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Camden Jack Hone.
He weighed 6 lbs 4 oz and measured 20.5 inches long. He was born pink and crying vigorously, with jet-black hair just like his mommy. He was perfect. After months of watching his heart closely for a possible coarctation of the aorta, seeing him breathing normally with good color felt like the greatest relief.
While Camden was lying on my chest for skin-to-skin, I told him about his big brother, Ripken, and his dogs, Hank and Gus. Then, suddenly, he began grunting and struggling to breathe. His skin started turning purple. He was quickly taken to the warmer, where his heart rate was found to be slower than normal. Within moments, he turned shock-white and underwent intubation and CPR.
Despite every effort, Camden’s heart was not able to recover. He was emergently placed on ECMO and taken to the NICU. His lungs began bleeding severely, and he developed devastating complications that caused his blood to both bleed and clot excessively. The ECMO could no longer pump effectively, and despite the extraordinary efforts of the doctors, nurses, and entire team at Children’s Hospital Colorado, our sweet baby’s heart never beat again.
Only hours after meeting him, we had to make the impossible decision to let him go.
There are no words for the pain of saying goodbye to your child on the same day you first held him. But the care we received at Children’s helped make the most horrific experience of our lives bearable. They held us up when we could not stand. They took photos of Camden, made imprints of his tiny hands and feet, and saved locks of his beautiful black hair — the only pieces of him we would get to bring home.
In the months that followed, the team at Children’s continued to care for us. They answered our questions with patience and compassion. They spent hours reviewing Camden’s case and imaging, searching for an explanation for what caused his sudden collapse. We still do not have all the answers, but the relationships we have formed with his caregivers have profoundly impacted our family and eased this healing process in ways we will never forget.
This year, we are riding in the Courage Classic in honor of Camden through Jam for Cam.
We are proud to designate the funds we raise to the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado, whose brilliance, compassion, and commitment have meant more to our family than I can ever fully express. From the receptionists, to the echo sonographers, to the cardiologists who spent hours in dark rooms reviewing every angle, shadow, and interpretation of Camden’s imaging — we are grateful for you every single day.
As an ICU nurse, postpartum mother, and grieving parent, I have seen many sides of medicine. But the care we received from Children’s was something I will carry for the rest of my life. Their work is so much bigger than a job. They care for children, families, and expecting mothers facing uncertain outcomes, and they continue to help keep me afloat during some of the worst waves.
Camden’s life was brief, but his impact has been profound. His absence has changed our family forever, but we hope his legacy will continue through events like the Courage Classic — raising awareness for infant loss, supporting the providers who care for families like ours, and helping future babies and families.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us on our journey to Jam for Cam. Thank you for helping us honor our beautiful boy.
May Camden’s legacy continue to grow, and may the Children’s community know how deeply they have changed our lives.
With humble gratitude,
Jaclyn, Justin, and Ripken Hone
