March 5, 2025 • 45 mins
Join us as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Laurie and Cameron, a remarkable mother-daughter duo who embody resilience and hope through dance. Their journey is one of not just facing life's challenges head-on, but embracing them with open hearts. Cameron, diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease and stage four cirrhosis at a young age, has found solace and strength through her passion for dance. This episode is packed with heartfelt moments as they share how dance serves as a lifeline for Cameron; it provides a sense of community, a source of joy, and a way to navigate the navigating world of health struggles.
Laurie's unwavering support for Cameron demonstrates the power of love and hope as they reflect upon their journey together. They discuss the importance of finding balance in life as well as the vital role of community support during challenging times. With so much negativity surrounding health journeys, their story shines as a beacon of positivity and strength.
They explore poignant themes such as the significance of pursuing passions, the healing power of art, and the importance of living every moment fully. Join us to uncover how they make every day meaningful, transforming adversity into inspiration. It’s a heartwarming reminder that through every twist and turn, love, support, and passion for life can guide the way. Don't miss this touching episode—subscribe, share, and be inspired!
Thanks for listening to Soul SiStories. We hope you follow us on your favorite podcast platform. Five-star ratings and reviews always help to spread our message of hope.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Welcome to Soul, SiSteries, where we have just
spent an amazing hour withLaurie and Cameron, a mother and
daughter duo who shared with ustheir hope through dance, and
all I can say is I want to startdancing.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Absolutely right.
Hope through dance, and all Ican say is I want to start
dancing.
Absolutely Right, want to startdancing.
And just this particularembrace of life because we know
part of this whole story is ahealth journey, that's a very
serious health journey, and yetthere are lives being lived
fully and with all the highs andlows, the ins and out, and, as
Cameron so gorgeously talkedabout, the laughter and the
(00:49):
tears both being repletethroughout them, and just
wonderful, a wonderful part ofthe story alike.
And living your life throughall of that, I mean, I'm just so
inspired, I'm incrediblyinspired.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Join us as we talk with Laurie and Cameron.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
We are just thrilled right now to be talking with
Laurie Rickman and her daughterCameron.
You know, in your community,wherever you live, wherever you
are, there are people goingthrough everything you can
imagine, right, and you're justlooking at your neighbors and
your friends who are leadingtheir lives and mainly you have
(01:38):
no idea all that they'reexperiencing behind the scenes
and behind the surface.
So I know the wonderful LaurieRickman because she does my hair
and I am so grateful for itbecause, one, she's magical and
two, she's just a lovely, lovelyperson.
And you know, when you talkwith your hairdresser you have
long and wonderful chats abouteverything in life and you get
(02:01):
to know each other really welland Lori has become my sweet
friend and I'm so grateful aboutthat and part of what I hear
about because, you know, we'remoms, we talk about our kids,
right, and Laurie has twobeautiful daughters and her
younger daughter is here with ustoday, her daughter Cameron,
whom I know mainly as thisglorious, wonderful sprite of a
(02:25):
competitive dancer.
The girl lives and breathes,dancing in all that she does and
all that she is truly as partof her very DNA.
And at the same time, I knowthat the wonderful, glorious
Cameron, who is one of the mostathletic just physically active
people we know, also deals withvery serious health challenges
(02:48):
on the daily.
She has polycystic kidneydisease and stage four cirrhosis
, and so there is the constantawareness of what's going on in
the body as she goes through herday, and her wonderful mama,
who is fully in support of hergirl, goes through her day.
So that's where we start withthe beautiful Laurie and Cameron
(03:10):
and their hope through, whichis dance.
Hope through dance is gorgeous.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So I don't know you except for Laurie.
You did my hair once while Iwas yes, I did get to meet you
once, and then I moved away, soI've not had my hair again and I
wish I did get to meet you once, yeah, and then I moved away,
so I've not had my hair againand I wish you were on my coast.
But I would love for you toshare a little bit with me and
anybody listening kind of whatgot you here?
What was your journey?
(03:38):
If you can talk a little bitabout the diagnosis and you know
, Cameron, were you alreadydancing before the diagnosis?
Did that come after?
Can you share a little bit withus about your story?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, so Cameron.
When she was about 10 years oldand she's 16 now she was.
We were in fifth grade class andshe came home from school and
she had a large bump and bruiseon her arm and I said oh my gosh
, what happened.
And she said I large bump andbruise on her arm.
And I said oh my gosh, whathappened.
And she said I barely hit myarm on my desk.
(04:09):
And I thought well, I don'tthink that's normal.
And my mom was over and shethought oh yeah, maybe we should
talk to her doctor.
So we went to the doctor andthey did some labs and Cameron,
the only thing that was flaggedwas she had low platelets.
So they sent us to hematologyand it was a little bit of a
(04:33):
wait.
It didn't seem urgent, like athree month wait to see this
hematologist over at thechildren's hospital in Orange
County.
So they started looking intodifferent blood disorders and
then we were in hematology forabout a year.
Cameron went through lots ofrare blood testing, genetic
(04:55):
testing, and they just couldn'tfind anything as far as a blood
disorder.
But her ALT and AST, which isyour liver enzymes, kept being
elevated.
So they had referred us over toa hepatologist, which is a
liver specialist, and so shesaid she didn't see an issue,
(05:18):
but she just thought it was afluke because we were watching
her so closely.
So we went back to hematologyand then they decided there
could be maybe some leukemiagoing on and that it hasn't
fully presented itself.
So Cameron did a bone marrow tocheck her and it was clear.
(05:38):
So then I mean, our biggestadvocate, I think, was this
hematologist, so she actuallyordered a full CT scan and then
it was her liver that wasflagged.
So after gosh, this is likethree years later of testing.
So three years later, thehepatologist and I mean we were
(06:01):
going through a pandemic, so itwas harder to get into the
doctor's office they did a liverbiopsy.
So Cameron's been underanesthesia quite a few times.
And then so the liver biopsyshe it came back and that was at
that was in July of 2022.
(06:23):
That she was diagnosed with.
So she had stage four fibrosisat that point.
And then I asked the doctor,like what's the treatment for
this?
And it's a liver transplant.
They still hadn't connectedthat.
So her she also during thisprocess and it's a lot.
(06:45):
So I'm sorry if it's hard tofollow there's, you're doing.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
You're doing great.
So thank you for all.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So her father has PKD , which is polycystic kidney
disease, and it's the number onemost hereditary disease.
We knew he had that, but thenephrologists they just don't
connect PKD with cirrhosis ofthe liver.
I mean there's a.
If both parents carry the gene,it's possible.
(07:14):
So that's why we're startinggenetic testing now, but it's
just they don't see it.
So so that's kind of wherewe're at now.
She did the nephrologist,because of the PKD, didn't
connect it.
So so then we did, oh, so her.
So at that point the liverspecialists we were seeing they,
(07:39):
I think because she had missedso much the first three years,
they sent us to a new team.
Cameron gets seen by Dr Silva,who's been amazing over at the
children's hospital, and then,because of the transplant, we
now have Cameron at thechildren's hospital in LA
because Chalk actually does notdo transplants.
(08:01):
So we have a team that sees her.
Now every three months she goesthrough evaluation.
The beautiful news is Cameron'sliver functions.
There's there's a lot of sideeffects from the cirrhosis.
When you're, when you havecirrhosis, your liver becomes
(08:23):
very stiff.
When you have cirrhosis, yourliver becomes very stiff, so
you're not getting the correctblood flow.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
And then your body, so cameron's spleen becomes
enlarged because you know her,her spleens protecting her
platelets basically what she'ssaying is that the spleen my
spleen is covered by my usuallyis covered by your ribs, but
since mine is enlarged, it's notcovered as much, so there's a
little bit that is peeking out.
(08:50):
So if any in like I, can't doany contact sports because if
someone were to bump into me andpoke it it could burst.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Wow, I'm going to interrupt real quick, only
because one what you've learnedabout the body and the medical
world is just crazy.
But I know when we play thisfor others, they're listening,
they're not watching and I mean,as a mom, I'm going to start
crying.
But I'm looking at you.
You're just smiling Like you'rejust radiating.
(09:21):
That is amazing.
So I didn't know this storyuntil Donna shared it with me
and I just have to say, as a 50,how old am I?
56 year old woman, howinspiring you are.
That the piece of you andclearly you are so much greater
than what's going on in yourbody.
(09:42):
So just amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Thank you.
Cameron is an inspiration dolland you know what she's been my
biggest inspiration and I knowit's hard.
She's my baby, so you know Itry really hard to, you know,
keep it together.
But watching Cameron and Idon't want her to have to, you
know, take care of me.
But just seeing her love forlife and she takes everything.
(10:09):
I mean this kid's been pokedand you know these biopsies,
these CT scans like I can't evencount how many like blood tests
, ct scans, ultrasounds thatshe's had anymore, it's just
routine.
I mean she has like probablyeight different specialists
right now, which are all amazingand Cameron, she's just, she
(10:34):
really is an inspiration and her, you know she loves life and
she's a good human, she's goodto everybody, she's a great
friend.
Yeah, I think anybody that getsto know Cameron is very lucky.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We can all see that for sure.
And, sis, I'm so glad you justsaid what you said, because same
same thought.
I'm not the mother of daughters, I'm the mother of sons, but I
have many beautiful nieces andyou are looking and sounding
like any one of my nieces whowas just having their best life
and doing what you do, and Ilove that.
(11:09):
But, laurie, I want to go backto you for a moment, because
this is a journey that you're onas well, and you're on not just
in, you know, doing the work ofhelping your daughter along the
path, but this is somethingthat you're experiencing also,
(11:30):
and you're experiencing it assomebody who's got to take care
of herself and also provide theright framework for your girl.
So talk to us a little bit, ifyou would, lori, about your own,
how you are finding thoseresources within yourself to be
a caretaker, a mom.
(11:50):
You work, you run a household,you live a life.
How is it that you find whatyou need in the face of all of
this?
Speaker 3 (12:06):
what you need in the face of all of this.
I think it's just, you know,finding the right balance and
trying to stay positive andseeing all the good in this.
I mean her liver is functioning, her organs are working, and
every day that's a blessing.
And watching Cameron, I meaneven when I watch her dance,
sometimes if I'm feeling youknow a certain way, I'll I watch
(12:27):
her dance to remind me howstrong she is.
And you know, yeah, I've, Iwork full time.
It's hard, you know, I get a lotof doctor's appointments,
doctors calling me throughoutthe week, every week.
You know my clients, includingyou, like you're all an
(12:48):
inspiration to me too, like lifeand just seeing, like I know
you've been through like so muchand so you're an inspiration to
me.
Like there's so many people andI think it's a gift that I get
to talk to.
You know I talked to probablysix to eight different people a
(13:08):
day and everybody has somethingand there's just, you know, like
, and you don't want to becomejaded like even a small issue,
you still you know it's big tosomebody else and just there's
just so much that people don'tknow and it's just.
It's about being kind toeverybody, because you don't
(13:31):
know what anybody's goingthrough, that you're walking
past Because you know, look atCameron, she doesn't you would
never know by looking at her andlike, even you, like you don't
know what you're going throughand just everybody has something
and you know there's justpeople are amazing and I'm so
lucky to have the support thatI've gained through my clients
(13:54):
and you know if I need toreschedule an appointment and
everybody you know everybody'sgreat and offers support and
they're always checking onCameron and Savannah and yeah,
so I mean we just try to staypositive and I mean we are so
lucky there is a cure for thisand Cameron can live a normal
(14:15):
life.
Yes, it's terrifying and it'sscary and all the things, and I
wish I could do it all forCameron, but I mean the hope is
Cameron can get a transplant andlive a normal life and have
children and continue to danceafter recovery, and that's where
the hope is.
You know Cameron, I dancing andshe's.
(14:38):
She dances so many hours a weekand, trust me, it's nerve
wracking but she loves it and Ithink it's what she needs to
keep her going too Right, wouldyou agree, cameron?
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Yeah, Well, go ahead, Diana.
You ask the question because Iknow we have the same question.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Actually, I'm putting have the same question.
I think I have many questions,actually I'm putting all these
pieces together, but what I wasgoing to ask?
Because you shared what aninspiration Cameron is for you
and I'm curious, Cameron, whatinspires you and gives you hope
through all of them?
Speaker 4 (15:14):
I would say dance gives me a really big
inspiration because I have manyfriends there who understand.
And then I have also justdancing Like I don't think of
anything, Like I don't thinkabout oh my gosh, I have this
doctor's appointment coming up,or I have all this.
Like I just kind of just danceand like that has been a really
big, huge part of my life andhow I like inspire others and
(15:38):
stuff.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I would imagine excuse me, I keep having a frog
in my throat, but I wouldimagine that just the sheer act
of dancing you see in a veryreal way how strong and
wonderful your body is day inand day out.
This is what your body can do,and you're proving that and
showing that it's just wonderful.
I mean, what a fabulous choiceand a fabulous way to treat your
(16:03):
body that has so muchfunctionality.
That is stellar.
Yeah, like that's the truthalso, while also dealing with
the rest.
Yeah, beautiful.
Do you find that the dance is?
I don't want to put words inyour mouth, but it sounds like
almost meditative to me, likethat you just get in a zone with
(16:24):
it.
Is that true?
Speaker 4 (16:42):
will do a meditation thing and it puts like everyone
in a zone to the point where,like, some people will be crying
, some people will be laughing,some people will just like be
happy, or some people just won'tfeel anything.
And it's crazy how much in atrance like you basically go
into.
So that's really helpful,especially when we do it at the
end of the week.
We usually do it on Thursdays,so it's really helpful because
(17:04):
it's like the end of the week wehave like so much homework from
school.
It's like our cool down moment.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
So dance gives you hope, and I'm looking at the
room you're sitting in and Idon't know how long you've been
dancing, but there are trophiesall over and I'm excited because
I dance related.
So will you share with us alittle bit, cameron kind of what
your dance journey looks like?
I know your mom said you dancemany hours a week.
I'm curious how it started, howit's developed, what you're
(17:31):
doing.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
So it started when my friend Brianna that I've been
friends with since kindergartenmy friend Brianna that I've been
friends with since kindergarten, me and her we were like best
friends and she was doing danceand she was she felt like she
had like because she's veryintroverted and I'm very like
like, very outgoing and stuff,and so she was like hey, kim, I
(17:54):
would like if you would join mystudio with me and like take
some classes with me, because,like I don't really have any
friends there and I want someonethere with me.
I was like, okay, yeah, I'llsee about it.
And I've done dance in the past, like little classes, like I've
done ballet.
I was not good in ballet, likeI'd go up to the mirror, not
listen, just look at myself.
And then I did like dance, likewhen I was what, like eight or
(18:19):
seven.
I did a a hip hop class.
I have some videos.
That is not interesting, I'mjumping around, obviously.
So I did this acro class and itwas really fun.
And then my acro teacher waslike you should try jazz.
(18:47):
And I was like, ok, so I joinedthe jazz class and I really
liked that class.
And then the teacher in thatclass was like, take a ballet so
that you know the basic stepsof jazz.
So I took a ballet and I hadthose three classes for about a
year and I had a teacher that'snow my solo teacher and, like my
favorite teacher of all time,she subbed for my ballet class
(19:08):
one time because one of theteacher that was originally
there she was, um, she just hada baby, so she was off, like for
a while.
And so the teacher was like,hey, camera, you should join
comp.
And I was just like, um, maybe,and then my mom was like, dang,
this is a lot of money.
Like, are you sure you want todo comp?
(19:28):
and all that and I was like,yeah, we can try it and see how
it goes.
And I had one group dance andthat was the best group dance.
It was to the song sign of thetimes by harry styles.
It was.
It was an amazing piece by myteacher, miss alia, and then
after that it placed a lot offirst and thirds and especially,
um, that one to the farthestright here.
(19:50):
That trophy was the first evercomp trophy and I was the only
one who had a one group dance.
So they said cameron should goup and get the award.
And that was probably the bestmoment of my like comp days
because it was really fun,because I was talking on a
microphone just saying we danceacademy, like let's go and stuff
, and we got like first place.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
It was really fun how old were you when you started?
12, 12, yeah, yeah.
So it was a couple of yearsinto her to her diagnosis that
she did start dancing but thecirrhosis was not.
The cirrhosis wasn't confirmedyet till, I would think, her
first year.
And then you know, you're just,I just let her do her thing.
(20:36):
I mean, as long as her body isletting her, I say, go for it.
And then you should share aboutwhat happened at nationals.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
Oh, nationals of 2024 .
Was it?
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Yeah, just this past nationals.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
It was in Las Vegas and it was really fun because my
aunt from um new jersey camedown and she, um, she came to
watch and it was probably one ofthe best comps.
She could have came to um,because it was I.
It's a funny story.
So the past.
(21:12):
So, right before group awardsand like before we were even
going to solo awards, I openedthis fortune cookie at Panda
Express and it said I have it onthe back of my phone.
But it said you have theattitude of a winner and awards
hasn't even happened yet.
And then when I went to awards,I got um national first place
(21:36):
and that's the giant trophyright there.
Yeah, oh, oh.
The camera went away, yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
You can pull it out if you want Well the podcast
can't, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, but we can.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
We can see it.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
And that's thrilling.
I mean, I'm just well, we're soimpressed and we're very proud
of you.
I have no personal right to beproud of you, but I am just a
fellow human being, young womanon the planet just absolutely
fully embracing and living yourlife, and doing it so joyfully
and using every tool at yourdisposal, like Bravo you and any
(22:13):
standards, regardless of thehealth condition.
This is, this is an inspiringway to live.
Yeah, and just I love yourstory of how your friend asks
you and you're like, yeah, I'lldo that, even though and it's so
important even though you'd nothad success before, you said
I'm going to go ahead and I'mgoing to jump in.
(22:33):
You know this, this will be athing to do, and I think that
very thing is something thatstops a lot of people from
leading their best lives, right?
Is that this fear of failure?
Or they had some challenge inthe past and so, oh, no, I'm not
going to do that thing.
I'm too afraid.
And you are definitely leadinga life where you're just going
to jump in any way and then lookwhat happens.
(22:54):
It's inspiring in anycircumstances, cameron, and I
hope you know that.
How just beautiful that is.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Thank you and you know what I was kind of.
That kid that I tried out forsoftball freshman year didn't
make it.
I was like I'm never trying outfor anything again.
So I'm glad I didn't pass thaton to her and I think it is
great.
You're absolutely right.
Just the inspiration, and Ithink it is great, You're
(23:42):
absolutely right.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Like just the inspiration and I think it's I
see her touch a lot of lives andit's just, it's just amazing
and I mean same to like.
You women like you're amazingand you like inspire us all and
I love what you're doing and Iappreciate you having us and,
you know, wanting to hear fromCameron and I'm so glad to have
met you.
Back at you, for sure, amillion percent, a million
percent.
I love you, friend, so much.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
I love you too.
Another question who inspiredyou, whether it's in the dance
world or just in life, who areyou inspired by?
Speaker 4 (24:01):
I would honestly say my mom, my mom always was there,
like for me, for everything,like she's always just been like
my person.
That has always like that wasalways there, and then also my
grandma.
She's always been like me andher have this saying we go like
number one and stuff like that.
(24:22):
And so, yeah, I'd probably saymy mom and my grandma, they're
my biggest inspirational.
Yeah, and I want to say yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
And it's just, like you know, generational, because
my mom to me is she is such arock and she's so positive.
And you know, my mom was ourfamily's been through a lot our
whole lives when, when I wasfour years old, my dad passed
away from cancer and he was 34.
My mom was 34 and my brotherwas two years old.
(24:52):
I was four, my sister was seven, so you know, watching she was,
she never wanted us to thinklife sucks.
So it was.
You know, watching she was.
She never wanted us to thinklife sucks.
So you know, an inspiration mywhole life.
And then she did go on to getremarried and at when I was 16,
my stepdad passed away suddenlyfrom a heart attack.
(25:12):
So widowed twice at a young age.
And now she is married to mystepdad Bobo, who's still here,
and now she's married to mystepdad Bobo, who's still here.
And you know, just watching mymom, like the positivity from
her is just amazing and she's soloving she.
Actually, her and Cameronremind me a lot of each other.
(25:32):
And my mom goes to.
During the pandemic she didn'tget to go to any.
We went through it alone,cameron and I, but now my mom's
able to go with us.
So and you know she's, she's sopositive and it just helps us
with a really great mindset.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
So talking about all of this and we will honor her
privacy because she's not hereand she didn't agree to be on
the podcast.
We were talking something else.
But you have another daughter,whom I also know through your
stories.
It leads a very authentic andtruthful life, with great
integrity, and is extremelyinspirational in that way as
(26:15):
well, so shout out to your otherdaughter as well.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yes, savannah.
Savannah is brilliant.
You know she's so like cool andcalm, and you know she's like
such a great person for us to bearound too, because you know
there's no panic drama.
She's just there for us andCameron and her.
You know they're so differentbut they love each other so much
(26:38):
and you know it's just.
I love my girls so much.
I'm so blessed and lucky.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
I love to hear just the stories of strong, powerful,
empowered women and girls Likethis is just the coolest thing
for me to hear.
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Hearing about your young girls gives me hope for
the future of really the world,knowing that these girls are
ready to take it all on oh yeah,these they, this younger
generation, they're amazingbecause even their friends and
everyone they're around, youknow it's inspiring and you know
you see here some people oh,I'm so glad I don't have girls,
(27:17):
but it's like, well, don't beglad you don't have girls,
because girls are amazing truthso much truth in that,
absolutely.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
And you know, I don't say I'm partial to boys too, oh
yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
But sometimes people say like girls are drama, girls
are this no, girls are wonderfulboys are wonderful and, and
it's right make the world goround together.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
And let's celebrate the power and potency of being a
woman in this world and allthat you have to offer.
And this is Cameron.
You are just absolutely firingus up and lighting us up with
how you're choosing to live andto celebrate this life that you
have and take every moment.
(28:02):
It's reminding me about, youknow, choices I make in my own
life and I thank you so much forthat.
But now you've got somethingright there, go ahead, I'll be
quiet.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
I just agree with you .
It's just you know again, as aslightly older person, it's just
you know again, as a slightlyolder person, I could remember
being 16.
And I don't know if I met lifequite the way you did, and I
(28:35):
think it's the things that Icould learn as you know, a
mother of young adults, how tokeep saying yes in the world,
how to keep showing up in theworld, how to keep being
authentic in the world, I thinkis just no matter our age or our
journey.
I think that's really important.
So I appreciate you sharing.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
And we appreciate you for letting us be on your
podcast.
This has been fun it was easypeasy, Laurie.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
As I say, when we talk I'm always so moved and
inspired by what it is that youhave to share and I just to be
real with you, friend I justlove how you meet the world and
how you meet people.
You know we talk, we know thatyou've got a variety of people
and energies that sit in yourchair and sometimes can be heavy
(29:22):
right in their energy, but youmeet everybody with tremendous
amount of love and acceptance,but never lose sight of your
center and what's true for you,and I just I honor and respect
that so deeply.
I'm so grateful for you know,being on the receiving end of
(29:43):
all that love and welcome aswell.
So you too, my friend, you, tolead a life that is is very
inspiring and it doesn't have tobe in these tremendous, like
these enormous ways when, frontof stadiums full of people, it's
one chair at a time, what?
a difference you make, what adifference.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Oh, thank you, I appreciate that and you know I'm
glad that it is inspiringbecause you know there is there
is a lot of fear with a lot ofhope and you know I'm thankful
for the support and like.
But if we can inspire people tojust you know and just you know
(30:23):
, be thankful for like what youhave in life and the people
around you, and you knowtomorrow's not always promised
and you know so you just got tolive in each day just got to
live in each day.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
So this next kind of section of questions, we like to
do this rapid fire.
We call it rapid fire eventhough it's not really rapid,
it's just we want you to answerwith the first thing that comes
to mind.
And you two are the firstguests that we've had two of you
on at one time.
So I'd love to kind of hearfrom you know, mom and daughter,
so each of you share withoutyou know, copy the other person
if the answer is the same, butdon't give the same answer if
(31:05):
it's not.
So you know when you like arewalking onto the stage to accept
that big award or to do a big.
You know TED talk.
There's music playing as you'rewalking in.
What would be your walk-in song?
What is the song playing foreverybody to hear?
Speaker 4 (31:22):
It would probably be all of the stars by Kendrick
Lamar and SZA.
Awesome, that's the one.
That's the one.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
And how about you?
It'd probably be Hot to Go byChopper Room Hot to Go by
Chopper Room.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Okay, I haven't experienced that.
All right, cool.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
All right, so here's the next question, and, lori,
you go first on this one whatbook changed you?
Speaker 3 (31:46):
um, I remember reading Little Girl Lost from
Drew Barrymore as a young girland I feel like that may have
changed me.
Little Girl Lost I'm prettysure that's the title, Great
Cameron.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
I think honestly, I need to read more.
That's what I think.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
What book did you love when you were a little girl
?
Like what picture book, storybook?
Speaker 4 (32:12):
The who Was books and Pinkalicious.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
Pinkalicious rock on.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
Pinkalicious was a good one, which was just banned.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
I know it was just banned.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Well, I mean banned by silly people, it's not banned
by thinking people.
Sorry, I'm just going to bereal and straight with that
Books are our friends in allways and all ways.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Yes, yes, okay, so not a book, but a movie.
What movie lives rent free inyour brain?
What movie can play over andover Beaches?
Speaker 4 (32:49):
or I was about to say say friends, but friends is a
tv show.
So beaches or anyone but you.
Those are my top two good, howabout you?
Speaker 3 (33:02):
kate hudson, the one where she travels with the band,
which is like one of myfavorite movies oh, yeah, um
almost famous Thank you.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Sometimes I feel like I get dementia out of nowhere.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
That's a great movie, okay, so what did you love
doing as a kid that you lovedoing to this day?
Speaker 4 (33:23):
I liked when I was younger, I liked painting like a
little bit, and I like doingthat now.
It's probably my secondfavorite hobby.
That and just honestly playinglike toys, iPad TV, like yeah,
(33:45):
outside with like the hose andspraying on my friends and stuff
.
So that's so good.
Oh, my God, I almost fell.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
Laurie, what's your thing?
You love, that you love to thisday.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
I love makeup.
To me it's like very relaxing.
You know I just sit there, youdecompress, paint your face, and
that's how I started my career.
You know I wanted to be amakeup artist and then I like to
the clientele part doing hair.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
So, yeah, makeup we've talked about that, that
you, that it's meditative foryou to put on makeup and I
almost never wear any makeup,but you, like, I am so impressed
with how you use it and why andall of that, it's like I was
like oh, I wish I had that it'sthe calm before the storm in the
day.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
You know, I'm just gonna sit here and paint oh yeah
, I I mean for my winter formal.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
Last night I did like a lot of makeup, but then on a
usual day I'll just do mascaraand like lip gloss or something.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Okay, and we have to say we're still in the middle of
um the rapid fire, but you haveto like honor and celebrate
Cameron, queen Cameron, at yourwinter formal last night.
Like what.
That's amazing, congrats.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
Thank you.
That winter formal was lastnight and we're having you
record with us first thing inthe morning.
That's it.
You're up and you're smilingand you're looking so good.
So let's see, we'll start withyou, lori, this time.
What in the world is lightingyou up right now?
(35:19):
What's giving you joy right now?
Speaker 3 (35:22):
Just sitting here with listening to all these
inspirational things and youknow I go so a lot of nights I
go to bed nervous or worried andlast night I you know I so
excited for Cameron gettingcrowned at her dance and it just
puts life in perspective aboutall the like great things.
You know let's not dwell on allthe negative and scary things
(35:46):
and and how about you, cameron,probably?
Speaker 4 (35:48):
dance, dance.
I just love dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance.
Like that's just everything.
And I really love like the um,like the feeling before going on
stage, like that nervousness.
You're like freaking out,you're telling your friends like
, oh my gosh, I better go onstage.
It's all these random judgesI've never talked to on a day of
(36:10):
my life, like I'm so nervous.
And then, right when you walkon stage, it's just like
everything goes away and you'redancing.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
That is gorgeous.
Thank you for that moment.
That is, that is a truth, and Ilove that.
I work a lot in theater andthat is something we talk about
all the time, isn't it how youuse that energy to you?
Don't let it take you out, butyou use it yeah, adrenaline is
your best friend, yeahadrenaline is your best friend.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
I love that, that's awesome, okay, so what color?
Is hope um, I feel like itwould be like, uh, like a green
almost.
I like like.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Green just gives me, like almost, a color of hope
love it, I would, I would saypink pink, beautiful yeah just
think pink's my favorite color,yeah yeah, I'm thinking, if you,
you know, look at your chakras,that green and pink are both
(37:11):
colors of the heart chakra,which is, you know, oh, what
does hope sound like?
Speaker 4 (37:21):
Hope sounds like laughter, crying and like just
like breathing in a way, likeit's just like all those three
things that you feel and thatbring you hope.
Like when you're crying, you'relike almost like crying either
for good things, bad things, butyou know there's hope there.
(37:44):
And laughing You're just likelike I'm there and I'm living,
and then breathing is just likea decompressing, like just like
get back into the moment typething.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Cameron, I don't know if you know how profound what
it is what you just said reallyis.
I'm going to take that with me.
I'm going to hold on to thelaughter and the tears.
That's gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
How about you, Lauriei?
I would say, hope for me isliving in each day and, just,
you know, living life to itsfullest and not drowning
yourself in worry, which is, youknow, it's a constant reminder,
but it's, the hope is there,and you know, you just remind
(38:31):
yourself, it's a lot ofself-talk.
So, yes, and like, of course,Cameron.
I mean you wake up to Cameron,she's smiling, and both of my
girls, they're just happy peopleand I mean how can you not have
hope when you get to talk toher every day?
(38:53):
She's so I mean she could, evenwhen she gets blood work.
It's like she's excited, it'slike you know.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
That's probably my favorite part of all my things I
get done blood work.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
It's fun.
She talks to the doctor, shetalks to the nurses.
They're like I'm not even goingto talk to mom, I'm going to
talk to Cameron.
Speaker 1 (39:13):
Amazing, so beautiful , okay, so complete.
The statement Dance is Dance islife.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Dance is just happiness, living in the moment.
And there's always ups anddowns in dance.
There's always like you getinjured, like for, in fact, she
did the hand motion, but, um,because, like you could like one
day not know that you're gonnaget hit in the face with the
foot and then have a face facefracture, like I did.
(39:45):
And so, yeah, there's for sure,ups and downs, because I
couldn't dance for four weeksand comp just started, so I was
very behind on all my dances andI have six this year.
So that was a very like hardhead start.
But otherwise, like dance, justlike laughing, like when you're
about to go on stage or whenyou're in class and you're
(40:08):
warming up and someone liketrips and falls on accident but
it's funny.
So everyone's laughing,everyone like stops doing the
warm-up and it's just like crazy.
And then trying on the costumesand stuff, which we did um, we
didn't do yesterday, we didFriday, or no, we did do
yesterday, because Saturday wehad a seven-hour practice and,
yeah, we tried on costumes.
(40:30):
Everyone was cheering eachother up, like, wow, that that
looks really great on you Wish Ihad that costume and, yeah,
dance is just life.
I love that.
How about?
Speaker 3 (40:39):
you, Laurie, you know dance.
It's totally.
I never saw me being a dancemom, it wasn't anything I pushed
.
I'm so thankful.
You know, the people we've metin the dance world are just
amazing, and Cameron'sfriendships and the teachers and
just the studio owner.
It's like everybody's just, youknow, wonderful and it's.
(41:01):
I think it's been a reallygreat thing for our family.
You know, it brings us together.
Savannah never misses acompetition.
My family doesn't miss the comp, so it brings everybody
together and it's something tolook forward to.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
So dance is community and it's connection.
It sounds like yes, for sure.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
Yes, which is life at all?
Is that big?
Yeah, exactly Right.
So that brings us to themeaning of life.
The meaning of life is what?
Speaker 4 (41:33):
the meaning of life.
The meaning of life is what themeaning of life to me is
probably like just being withpeople that you're closest to
and living almost in the moment.
Like not worrying about, likeoh, like this guy didn't text me
back this, like other thinglike the drama, like you're just
almost living in the moment,like especially like at a
(41:56):
concert, for example, like notrecording.
You're just like.
You're like I'm just going tolive in the moment, listen to
the music and party and be withlike my mom and my sister, for
example, and like hang out andstuff.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
So yeah, or, for example, and like hang out and
stuff.
So yeah, like, what about you?
Life to me is definitely family, like that's everything over
all.
Yeah, family, and you knowfriends that are family, it's
everything yeah.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
so then the last one hope is Hope is just like almost
like I wouldn't say like hopingfor the better, but like
because there's always going tobe something that you want
better.
Because, like the saying, likeyou want what you can't have.
Like, for example, like some ofmy friends will be like, hey, I
(42:51):
like your straight hair, I wishI had straight hair.
And I was like hey, I like yourcurly hair, wish I had curly
hair, and stuff like that.
And yeah, just hope is justlike just remembering, like
where you are in life and justalways knowing that, like the
storm comes and goes, like itwill be like either the hardest
(43:13):
time, but just know not to giveup and just keep on pushing
through because the good is onthe other side and stuff.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
So yeah, girl, you have no idea.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
All right, miss Laurie hope is hope to me is,
you know, not giving up.
For me it's like a constantreminder of you know, have that
hope, don't give up, like we gotthis.
And you know with all thecommunity and friends and family
(43:44):
, and you know that's my hopeand you know just, we're not
giving it up.
Speaker 1 (43:58):
Yeah, yeah, lori and Cameron, we can't thank you
enough for taking the time andsharing with us so openly and
gorgeously, cameron.
Well, lori, you know I love youand your friend for life.
Cameron, this little talk withyou has absolutely changed me
and impacted me beautifully, andI want you to know that I thank
(44:19):
you so much for sharingyourself.
Speaker 4 (44:23):
I'm so glad that that like inspired you for sure.
Speaker 2 (44:28):
Thanks for joining us today on Soul Sisteries.
Speaker 1 (44:30):
And thanks for sharing stories with us.
We'd love to hear your storiesas well and keep the
conversation going, absolutelykeeping the hope going.
So we're really hopeful thatyou'll connect with our guests
as well, who have great storiesto share.
Go ahead and follow them invarious social media platforms
or live venues, wherever it isthat they're performing and
(44:54):
sharing what they do.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
We would love to have you follow us on all of our
social media platforms,subscribe and rate, as that will
help us get our message of hopeout to others.
Thanks for listening to SoulSisteries.
Welcome to Soul, SiSteries, where we have just
spent an amazing hour withLaurie and Cameron, a mother and
daughter duo who shared with ustheir hope through dance, and
all I can say is I want to startdancing.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Absolutely right.
Hope through dance, and all Ican say is I want to start
dancing.
Absolutely Right, want to startdancing.
And just this particularembrace of life because we know
part of this whole story is ahealth journey, that's a very
serious health journey, and yetthere are lives being lived
fully and with all the highs andlows, the ins and out, and, as
Cameron so gorgeously talkedabout, the laughter and the
(00:49):
tears both being repletethroughout them, and just
wonderful, a wonderful part ofthe story alike.
And living your life throughall of that, I mean, I'm just so
inspired, I'm incrediblyinspired.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Join us as we talk with Laurie and Cameron.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
We are just thrilled right now to be talking with
Laurie Rickman and her daughterCameron.
You know, in your community,wherever you live, wherever you
are, there are people goingthrough everything you can
imagine, right, and you're justlooking at your neighbors and
your friends who are leadingtheir lives and mainly you have
(01:38):
no idea all that they'reexperiencing behind the scenes
and behind the surface.
So I know the wonderful LaurieRickman because she does my hair
and I am so grateful for itbecause, one, she's magical and
two, she's just a lovely, lovelyperson.
And you know, when you talkwith your hairdresser you have
long and wonderful chats abouteverything in life and you get
(02:01):
to know each other really welland Lori has become my sweet
friend and I'm so grateful aboutthat and part of what I hear
about because, you know, we'remoms, we talk about our kids,
right, and Laurie has twobeautiful daughters and her
younger daughter is here with ustoday, her daughter Cameron,
whom I know mainly as thisglorious, wonderful sprite of a
(02:25):
competitive dancer.
The girl lives and breathes,dancing in all that she does and
all that she is truly as partof her very DNA.
And at the same time, I knowthat the wonderful, glorious
Cameron, who is one of the mostathletic just physically active
people we know, also deals withvery serious health challenges
(02:48):
on the daily.
She has polycystic kidneydisease and stage four cirrhosis
, and so there is the constantawareness of what's going on in
the body as she goes through herday, and her wonderful mama,
who is fully in support of hergirl, goes through her day.
So that's where we start withthe beautiful Laurie and Cameron
(03:10):
and their hope through, whichis dance.
Hope through dance is gorgeous.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So I don't know you except for Laurie.
You did my hair once while Iwas yes, I did get to meet you
once, and then I moved away, soI've not had my hair again and I
wish I did get to meet you once, yeah, and then I moved away,
so I've not had my hair againand I wish you were on my coast.
But I would love for you toshare a little bit with me and
anybody listening kind of whatgot you here?
What was your journey?
(03:38):
If you can talk a little bitabout the diagnosis and you know
, Cameron, were you alreadydancing before the diagnosis?
Did that come after?
Can you share a little bit withus about your story?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, so Cameron.
When she was about 10 years oldand she's 16 now she was.
We were in fifth grade class andshe came home from school and
she had a large bump and bruiseon her arm and I said oh my gosh
, what happened.
And she said I large bump andbruise on her arm.
And I said oh my gosh, whathappened.
And she said I barely hit myarm on my desk.
(04:09):
And I thought well, I don'tthink that's normal.
And my mom was over and shethought oh yeah, maybe we should
talk to her doctor.
So we went to the doctor andthey did some labs and Cameron,
the only thing that was flaggedwas she had low platelets.
So they sent us to hematologyand it was a little bit of a
(04:33):
wait.
It didn't seem urgent, like athree month wait to see this
hematologist over at thechildren's hospital in Orange
County.
So they started looking intodifferent blood disorders and
then we were in hematology forabout a year.
Cameron went through lots ofrare blood testing, genetic
(04:55):
testing, and they just couldn'tfind anything as far as a blood
disorder.
But her ALT and AST, which isyour liver enzymes, kept being
elevated.
So they had referred us over toa hepatologist, which is a
liver specialist, and so shesaid she didn't see an issue,
(05:18):
but she just thought it was afluke because we were watching
her so closely.
So we went back to hematologyand then they decided there
could be maybe some leukemiagoing on and that it hasn't
fully presented itself.
So Cameron did a bone marrow tocheck her and it was clear.
(05:38):
So then I mean, our biggestadvocate, I think, was this
hematologist, so she actuallyordered a full CT scan and then
it was her liver that wasflagged.
So after gosh, this is likethree years later of testing.
So three years later, thehepatologist and I mean we were
(06:01):
going through a pandemic, so itwas harder to get into the
doctor's office they did a liverbiopsy.
So Cameron's been underanesthesia quite a few times.
And then so the liver biopsyshe it came back and that was at
that was in July of 2022.
(06:23):
That she was diagnosed with.
So she had stage four fibrosisat that point.
And then I asked the doctor,like what's the treatment for
this?
And it's a liver transplant.
They still hadn't connectedthat.
So her she also during thisprocess and it's a lot.
(06:45):
So I'm sorry if it's hard tofollow there's, you're doing.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
You're doing great.
So thank you for all.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So her father has PKD , which is polycystic kidney
disease, and it's the number onemost hereditary disease.
We knew he had that, but thenephrologists they just don't
connect PKD with cirrhosis ofthe liver.
I mean there's a.
If both parents carry the gene,it's possible.
(07:14):
So that's why we're startinggenetic testing now, but it's
just they don't see it.
So so that's kind of wherewe're at now.
She did the nephrologist,because of the PKD, didn't
connect it.
So so then we did, oh, so her.
So at that point the liverspecialists we were seeing they,
(07:39):
I think because she had missedso much the first three years,
they sent us to a new team.
Cameron gets seen by Dr Silva,who's been amazing over at the
children's hospital, and then,because of the transplant, we
now have Cameron at thechildren's hospital in LA
because Chalk actually does notdo transplants.
(08:01):
So we have a team that sees her.
Now every three months she goesthrough evaluation.
The beautiful news is Cameron'sliver functions.
There's there's a lot of sideeffects from the cirrhosis.
When you're, when you havecirrhosis, your liver becomes
(08:23):
very stiff.
When you have cirrhosis, yourliver becomes very stiff, so
you're not getting the correctblood flow.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
And then your body, so cameron's spleen becomes
enlarged because you know her,her spleens protecting her
platelets basically what she'ssaying is that the spleen my
spleen is covered by my usuallyis covered by your ribs, but
since mine is enlarged, it's notcovered as much, so there's a
little bit that is peeking out.
(08:50):
So if any in like I, can't doany contact sports because if
someone were to bump into me andpoke it it could burst.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Wow, I'm going to interrupt real quick, only
because one what you've learnedabout the body and the medical
world is just crazy.
But I know when we play thisfor others, they're listening,
they're not watching and I mean,as a mom, I'm going to start
crying.
But I'm looking at you.
You're just smiling Like you'rejust radiating.
(09:21):
That is amazing.
So I didn't know this storyuntil Donna shared it with me
and I just have to say, as a 50,how old am I?
56 year old woman, howinspiring you are.
That the piece of you andclearly you are so much greater
than what's going on in yourbody.
(09:42):
So just amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Thank you.
Cameron is an inspiration dolland you know what she's been my
biggest inspiration and I knowit's hard.
She's my baby, so you know Itry really hard to, you know,
keep it together.
But watching Cameron and Idon't want her to have to, you
know, take care of me.
But just seeing her love forlife and she takes everything.
(10:09):
I mean this kid's been pokedand you know these biopsies,
these CT scans like I can't evencount how many like blood tests
, ct scans, ultrasounds thatshe's had anymore, it's just
routine.
I mean she has like probablyeight different specialists
right now, which are all amazingand Cameron, she's just, she
(10:34):
really is an inspiration and her, you know she loves life and
she's a good human, she's goodto everybody, she's a great
friend.
Yeah, I think anybody that getsto know Cameron is very lucky.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We can all see that for sure.
And, sis, I'm so glad you justsaid what you said, because same
same thought.
I'm not the mother of daughters, I'm the mother of sons, but I
have many beautiful nieces andyou are looking and sounding
like any one of my nieces whowas just having their best life
and doing what you do, and Ilove that.
(11:09):
But, laurie, I want to go backto you for a moment, because
this is a journey that you're onas well, and you're on not just
in, you know, doing the work ofhelping your daughter along the
path, but this is somethingthat you're experiencing also,
(11:30):
and you're experiencing it assomebody who's got to take care
of herself and also provide theright framework for your girl.
So talk to us a little bit, ifyou would, lori, about your own,
how you are finding thoseresources within yourself to be
a caretaker, a mom.
(11:50):
You work, you run a household,you live a life.
How is it that you find whatyou need in the face of all of
this?
Speaker 3 (12:06):
what you need in the face of all of this.
I think it's just, you know,finding the right balance and
trying to stay positive andseeing all the good in this.
I mean her liver is functioning, her organs are working, and
every day that's a blessing.
And watching Cameron, I meaneven when I watch her dance,
sometimes if I'm feeling youknow a certain way, I'll I watch
(12:27):
her dance to remind me howstrong she is.
And you know, yeah, I've, Iwork full time.
It's hard, you know, I get a lotof doctor's appointments,
doctors calling me throughoutthe week, every week.
You know my clients, includingyou, like you're all an
(12:48):
inspiration to me too, like lifeand just seeing, like I know
you've been through like so muchand so you're an inspiration to
me.
Like there's so many people andI think it's a gift that I get
to talk to.
You know I talked to probablysix to eight different people a
(13:08):
day and everybody has somethingand there's just, you know, like
, and you don't want to becomejaded like even a small issue,
you still you know it's big tosomebody else and just there's
just so much that people don'tknow and it's just.
It's about being kind toeverybody, because you don't
(13:31):
know what anybody's goingthrough, that you're walking
past Because you know, look atCameron, she doesn't you would
never know by looking at her andlike, even you, like you don't
know what you're going throughand just everybody has something
and you know there's justpeople are amazing and I'm so
lucky to have the support thatI've gained through my clients
(13:54):
and you know if I need toreschedule an appointment and
everybody you know everybody'sgreat and offers support and
they're always checking onCameron and Savannah and yeah,
so I mean we just try to staypositive and I mean we are so
lucky there is a cure for thisand Cameron can live a normal
(14:15):
life.
Yes, it's terrifying and it'sscary and all the things, and I
wish I could do it all forCameron, but I mean the hope is
Cameron can get a transplant andlive a normal life and have
children and continue to danceafter recovery, and that's where
the hope is.
You know Cameron, I dancing andshe's.
(14:38):
She dances so many hours a weekand, trust me, it's nerve
wracking but she loves it and Ithink it's what she needs to
keep her going too Right, wouldyou agree, cameron?
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Yeah, Well, go ahead, Diana.
You ask the question because Iknow we have the same question.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Actually, I'm putting have the same question.
I think I have many questions,actually I'm putting all these
pieces together, but what I wasgoing to ask?
Because you shared what aninspiration Cameron is for you
and I'm curious, Cameron, whatinspires you and gives you hope
through all of them?
Speaker 4 (15:14):
I would say dance gives me a really big
inspiration because I have manyfriends there who understand.
And then I have also justdancing Like I don't think of
anything, Like I don't thinkabout oh my gosh, I have this
doctor's appointment coming up,or I have all this.
Like I just kind of just danceand like that has been a really
big, huge part of my life andhow I like inspire others and
(15:38):
stuff.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I would imagine excuse me, I keep having a frog
in my throat, but I wouldimagine that just the sheer act
of dancing you see in a veryreal way how strong and
wonderful your body is day inand day out.
This is what your body can do,and you're proving that and
showing that it's just wonderful.
I mean, what a fabulous choiceand a fabulous way to treat your
(16:03):
body that has so muchfunctionality.
That is stellar.
Yeah, like that's the truthalso, while also dealing with
the rest.
Yeah, beautiful.
Do you find that the dance is?
I don't want to put words inyour mouth, but it sounds like
almost meditative to me, likethat you just get in a zone with
(16:24):
it.
Is that true?
Speaker 4 (16:42):
will do a meditation thing and it puts like everyone
in a zone to the point where,like, some people will be crying
, some people will be laughing,some people will just like be
happy, or some people just won'tfeel anything.
And it's crazy how much in atrance like you basically go
into.
So that's really helpful,especially when we do it at the
end of the week.
We usually do it on Thursdays,so it's really helpful because
(17:04):
it's like the end of the week wehave like so much homework from
school.
It's like our cool down moment.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
So dance gives you hope, and I'm looking at the
room you're sitting in and Idon't know how long you've been
dancing, but there are trophiesall over and I'm excited because
I dance related.
So will you share with us alittle bit, cameron kind of what
your dance journey looks like?
I know your mom said you dancemany hours a week.
I'm curious how it started, howit's developed, what you're
(17:31):
doing.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
So it started when my friend Brianna that I've been
friends with since kindergartenmy friend Brianna that I've been
friends with since kindergarten, me and her we were like best
friends and she was doing danceand she was she felt like she
had like because she's veryintroverted and I'm very like
like, very outgoing and stuff,and so she was like hey, kim, I
(17:54):
would like if you would join mystudio with me and like take
some classes with me, because,like I don't really have any
friends there and I want someonethere with me.
I was like, okay, yeah, I'llsee about it.
And I've done dance in the past, like little classes, like I've
done ballet.
I was not good in ballet, likeI'd go up to the mirror, not
listen, just look at myself.
And then I did like dance, likewhen I was what, like eight or
(18:19):
seven.
I did a a hip hop class.
I have some videos.
That is not interesting, I'mjumping around, obviously.
So I did this acro class and itwas really fun.
And then my acro teacher waslike you should try jazz.
(18:47):
And I was like, ok, so I joinedthe jazz class and I really
liked that class.
And then the teacher in thatclass was like, take a ballet so
that you know the basic stepsof jazz.
So I took a ballet and I hadthose three classes for about a
year and I had a teacher that'snow my solo teacher and, like my
favorite teacher of all time,she subbed for my ballet class
(19:08):
one time because one of theteacher that was originally
there she was, um, she just hada baby, so she was off, like for
a while.
And so the teacher was like,hey, camera, you should join
comp.
And I was just like, um, maybe,and then my mom was like, dang,
this is a lot of money.
Like, are you sure you want todo comp?
(19:28):
and all that and I was like,yeah, we can try it and see how
it goes.
And I had one group dance andthat was the best group dance.
It was to the song sign of thetimes by harry styles.
It was.
It was an amazing piece by myteacher, miss alia, and then
after that it placed a lot offirst and thirds and especially,
um, that one to the farthestright here.
(19:50):
That trophy was the first evercomp trophy and I was the only
one who had a one group dance.
So they said cameron should goup and get the award.
And that was probably the bestmoment of my like comp days
because it was really fun,because I was talking on a
microphone just saying we danceacademy, like let's go and stuff
, and we got like first place.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
It was really fun how old were you when you started?
12, 12, yeah, yeah.
So it was a couple of yearsinto her to her diagnosis that
she did start dancing but thecirrhosis was not.
The cirrhosis wasn't confirmedyet till, I would think, her
first year.
And then you know, you're just,I just let her do her thing.
(20:36):
I mean, as long as her body isletting her, I say, go for it.
And then you should share aboutwhat happened at nationals.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
Oh, nationals of 2024 .
Was it?
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Yeah, just this past nationals.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
It was in Las Vegas and it was really fun because my
aunt from um new jersey camedown and she, um, she came to
watch and it was probably one ofthe best comps.
She could have came to um,because it was I.
It's a funny story.
So the past.
(21:12):
So, right before group awardsand like before we were even
going to solo awards, I openedthis fortune cookie at Panda
Express and it said I have it onthe back of my phone.
But it said you have theattitude of a winner and awards
hasn't even happened yet.
And then when I went to awards,I got um national first place
(21:36):
and that's the giant trophyright there.
Yeah, oh, oh.
The camera went away, yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
You can pull it out if you want Well the podcast
can't, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, but we can.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
We can see it.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
And that's thrilling.
I mean, I'm just well, we're soimpressed and we're very proud
of you.
I have no personal right to beproud of you, but I am just a
fellow human being, young womanon the planet just absolutely
fully embracing and living yourlife, and doing it so joyfully
and using every tool at yourdisposal, like Bravo you and any
(22:13):
standards, regardless of thehealth condition.
This is, this is an inspiringway to live.
Yeah, and just I love yourstory of how your friend asks
you and you're like, yeah, I'lldo that, even though and it's so
important even though you'd nothad success before, you said
I'm going to go ahead and I'mgoing to jump in.
(22:33):
You know this, this will be athing to do, and I think that
very thing is something thatstops a lot of people from
leading their best lives, right?
Is that this fear of failure?
Or they had some challenge inthe past and so, oh, no, I'm not
going to do that thing.
I'm too afraid.
And you are definitely leadinga life where you're just going
to jump in any way and then lookwhat happens.
(22:54):
It's inspiring in anycircumstances, cameron, and I
hope you know that.
How just beautiful that is.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Thank you and you know what I was kind of.
That kid that I tried out forsoftball freshman year didn't
make it.
I was like I'm never trying outfor anything again.
So I'm glad I didn't pass thaton to her and I think it is
great.
You're absolutely right.
Just the inspiration, and Ithink it is great, You're
(23:42):
absolutely right.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Like just the inspiration and I think it's I
see her touch a lot of lives andit's just, it's just amazing
and I mean same to like.
You women like you're amazingand you like inspire us all and
I love what you're doing and Iappreciate you having us and,
you know, wanting to hear fromCameron and I'm so glad to have
met you.
Back at you, for sure, amillion percent, a million
percent.
I love you, friend, so much.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
I love you too.
Another question who inspiredyou, whether it's in the dance
world or just in life, who areyou inspired by?
Speaker 4 (24:01):
I would honestly say my mom, my mom always was there,
like for me, for everything,like she's always just been like
my person.
That has always like that wasalways there, and then also my
grandma.
She's always been like me andher have this saying we go like
number one and stuff like that.
(24:22):
And so, yeah, I'd probably saymy mom and my grandma, they're
my biggest inspirational.
Yeah, and I want to say yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
And it's just, like you know, generational, because
my mom to me is she is such arock and she's so positive.
And you know, my mom was ourfamily's been through a lot our
whole lives when, when I wasfour years old, my dad passed
away from cancer and he was 34.
My mom was 34 and my brotherwas two years old.
(24:52):
I was four, my sister was seven, so you know, watching she was,
she never wanted us to thinklife sucks.
So it was.
You know, watching she was.
She never wanted us to thinklife sucks.
So you know, an inspiration mywhole life.
And then she did go on to getremarried and at when I was 16,
my stepdad passed away suddenlyfrom a heart attack.
(25:12):
So widowed twice at a young age.
And now she is married to mystepdad Bobo, who's still here,
and now she's married to mystepdad Bobo, who's still here.
And you know, just watching mymom, like the positivity from
her is just amazing and she's soloving she.
Actually, her and Cameronremind me a lot of each other.
(25:32):
And my mom goes to.
During the pandemic she didn'tget to go to any.
We went through it alone,cameron and I, but now my mom's
able to go with us.
So and you know she's, she's sopositive and it just helps us
with a really great mindset.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
So talking about all of this and we will honor her
privacy because she's not hereand she didn't agree to be on
the podcast.
We were talking something else.
But you have another daughter,whom I also know through your
stories.
It leads a very authentic andtruthful life, with great
integrity, and is extremelyinspirational in that way as
(26:15):
well, so shout out to your otherdaughter as well.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yes, savannah.
Savannah is brilliant.
You know she's so like cool andcalm, and you know she's like
such a great person for us to bearound too, because you know
there's no panic drama.
She's just there for us andCameron and her.
You know they're so differentbut they love each other so much
(26:38):
and you know it's just.
I love my girls so much.
I'm so blessed and lucky.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
I love to hear just the stories of strong, powerful,
empowered women and girls Likethis is just the coolest thing
for me to hear.
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Hearing about your young girls gives me hope for
the future of really the world,knowing that these girls are
ready to take it all on oh yeah,these they, this younger
generation, they're amazingbecause even their friends and
everyone they're around, youknow it's inspiring and you know
you see here some people oh,I'm so glad I don't have girls,
(27:17):
but it's like, well, don't beglad you don't have girls,
because girls are amazing truthso much truth in that,
absolutely.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
And you know, I don't say I'm partial to boys too, oh
yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
But sometimes people say like girls are drama, girls
are this no, girls are wonderfulboys are wonderful and, and
it's right make the world goround together.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
And let's celebrate the power and potency of being a
woman in this world and allthat you have to offer.
And this is Cameron.
You are just absolutely firingus up and lighting us up with
how you're choosing to live andto celebrate this life that you
have and take every moment.
(28:02):
It's reminding me about, youknow, choices I make in my own
life and I thank you so much forthat.
But now you've got somethingright there, go ahead, I'll be
quiet.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
I just agree with you .
It's just you know again, as aslightly older person, it's just
you know again, as a slightlyolder person, I could remember
being 16.
And I don't know if I met lifequite the way you did, and I
(28:35):
think it's the things that Icould learn as you know, a
mother of young adults, how tokeep saying yes in the world,
how to keep showing up in theworld, how to keep being
authentic in the world, I thinkis just no matter our age or our
journey.
I think that's really important.
So I appreciate you sharing.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
And we appreciate you for letting us be on your
podcast.
This has been fun it was easypeasy, Laurie.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
As I say, when we talk I'm always so moved and
inspired by what it is that youhave to share and I just to be
real with you, friend I justlove how you meet the world and
how you meet people.
You know we talk, we know thatyou've got a variety of people
and energies that sit in yourchair and sometimes can be heavy
(29:22):
right in their energy, but youmeet everybody with tremendous
amount of love and acceptance,but never lose sight of your
center and what's true for you,and I just I honor and respect
that so deeply.
I'm so grateful for you know,being on the receiving end of
(29:43):
all that love and welcome aswell.
So you too, my friend, you, tolead a life that is is very
inspiring and it doesn't have tobe in these tremendous, like
these enormous ways when, frontof stadiums full of people, it's
one chair at a time, what?
a difference you make, what adifference.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Oh, thank you, I appreciate that and you know I'm
glad that it is inspiringbecause you know there is there
is a lot of fear with a lot ofhope and you know I'm thankful
for the support and like.
But if we can inspire people tojust you know and just you know
(30:23):
, be thankful for like what youhave in life and the people
around you, and you knowtomorrow's not always promised
and you know so you just got tolive in each day just got to
live in each day.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
So this next kind of section of questions, we like to
do this rapid fire.
We call it rapid fire eventhough it's not really rapid,
it's just we want you to answerwith the first thing that comes
to mind.
And you two are the firstguests that we've had two of you
on at one time.
So I'd love to kind of hearfrom you know, mom and daughter,
so each of you share withoutyou know, copy the other person
if the answer is the same, butdon't give the same answer if
(31:05):
it's not.
So you know when you like arewalking onto the stage to accept
that big award or to do a big.
You know TED talk.
There's music playing as you'rewalking in.
What would be your walk-in song?
What is the song playing foreverybody to hear?
Speaker 4 (31:22):
It would probably be all of the stars by Kendrick
Lamar and SZA.
Awesome, that's the one.
That's the one.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
And how about you?
It'd probably be Hot to Go byChopper Room Hot to Go by
Chopper Room.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Okay, I haven't experienced that.
All right, cool.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
All right, so here's the next question, and, lori,
you go first on this one whatbook changed you?
Speaker 3 (31:46):
um, I remember reading Little Girl Lost from
Drew Barrymore as a young girland I feel like that may have
changed me.
Little Girl Lost I'm prettysure that's the title, Great
Cameron.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
I think honestly, I need to read more.
That's what I think.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
What book did you love when you were a little girl
?
Like what picture book, storybook?
Speaker 4 (32:12):
The who Was books and Pinkalicious.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
Pinkalicious rock on.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
Pinkalicious was a good one, which was just banned.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
I know it was just banned.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Well, I mean banned by silly people, it's not banned
by thinking people.
Sorry, I'm just going to bereal and straight with that
Books are our friends in allways and all ways.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Yes, yes, okay, so not a book, but a movie.
What movie lives rent free inyour brain?
What movie can play over andover Beaches?
Speaker 4 (32:49):
or I was about to say say friends, but friends is a
tv show.
So beaches or anyone but you.
Those are my top two good, howabout you?
Speaker 3 (33:02):
kate hudson, the one where she travels with the band,
which is like one of myfavorite movies oh, yeah, um
almost famous Thank you.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Sometimes I feel like I get dementia out of nowhere.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
That's a great movie, okay, so what did you love
doing as a kid that you lovedoing to this day?
Speaker 4 (33:23):
I liked when I was younger, I liked painting like a
little bit, and I like doingthat now.
It's probably my secondfavorite hobby.
That and just honestly playinglike toys, iPad TV, like yeah,
(33:45):
outside with like the hose andspraying on my friends and stuff
.
So that's so good.
Oh, my God, I almost fell.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
Laurie, what's your thing?
You love, that you love to thisday.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
I love makeup.
To me it's like very relaxing.
You know I just sit there, youdecompress, paint your face, and
that's how I started my career.
You know I wanted to be amakeup artist and then I like to
the clientele part doing hair.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
So, yeah, makeup we've talked about that, that
you, that it's meditative foryou to put on makeup and I
almost never wear any makeup,but you, like, I am so impressed
with how you use it and why andall of that, it's like I was
like oh, I wish I had that it'sthe calm before the storm in the
day.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
You know, I'm just gonna sit here and paint oh yeah
, I I mean for my winter formal.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
Last night I did like a lot of makeup, but then on a
usual day I'll just do mascaraand like lip gloss or something.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Okay, and we have to say we're still in the middle of
um the rapid fire, but you haveto like honor and celebrate
Cameron, queen Cameron, at yourwinter formal last night.
Like what.
That's amazing, congrats.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
Thank you.
That winter formal was lastnight and we're having you
record with us first thing inthe morning.
That's it.
You're up and you're smilingand you're looking so good.
So let's see, we'll start withyou, lori, this time.
What in the world is lightingyou up right now?
(35:19):
What's giving you joy right now?
Speaker 3 (35:22):
Just sitting here with listening to all these
inspirational things and youknow I go so a lot of nights I
go to bed nervous or worried andlast night I you know I so
excited for Cameron gettingcrowned at her dance and it just
puts life in perspective aboutall the like great things.
You know let's not dwell on allthe negative and scary things
(35:46):
and and how about you, cameron,probably?
Speaker 4 (35:48):
dance, dance.
I just love dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance.
Like that's just everything.
And I really love like the um,like the feeling before going on
stage, like that nervousness.
You're like freaking out,you're telling your friends like
, oh my gosh, I better go onstage.
It's all these random judgesI've never talked to on a day of
(36:10):
my life, like I'm so nervous.
And then, right when you walkon stage, it's just like
everything goes away and you'redancing.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
That is gorgeous.
Thank you for that moment.
That is, that is a truth, and Ilove that.
I work a lot in theater andthat is something we talk about
all the time, isn't it how youuse that energy to you?
Don't let it take you out, butyou use it yeah, adrenaline is
your best friend, yeahadrenaline is your best friend.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
I love that, that's awesome, okay, so what color?
Is hope um, I feel like itwould be like, uh, like a green
almost.
I like like.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Green just gives me, like almost, a color of hope
love it, I would, I would saypink pink, beautiful yeah just
think pink's my favorite color,yeah yeah, I'm thinking, if you,
you know, look at your chakras,that green and pink are both
(37:11):
colors of the heart chakra,which is, you know, oh, what
does hope sound like?
Speaker 4 (37:21):
Hope sounds like laughter, crying and like just
like breathing in a way, likeit's just like all those three
things that you feel and thatbring you hope.
Like when you're crying, you'relike almost like crying either
for good things, bad things, butyou know there's hope there.
(37:44):
And laughing You're just likelike I'm there and I'm living,
and then breathing is just likea decompressing, like just like
get back into the moment typething.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Cameron, I don't know if you know how profound what
it is what you just said reallyis.
I'm going to take that with me.
I'm going to hold on to thelaughter and the tears.
That's gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
How about you, Lauriei?
I would say, hope for me isliving in each day and, just,
you know, living life to itsfullest and not drowning
yourself in worry, which is, youknow, it's a constant reminder,
but it's, the hope is there,and you know, you just remind
(38:31):
yourself, it's a lot ofself-talk.
So, yes, and like, of course,Cameron.
I mean you wake up to Cameron,she's smiling, and both of my
girls, they're just happy peopleand I mean how can you not have
hope when you get to talk toher every day?
(38:53):
She's so I mean she could, evenwhen she gets blood work.
It's like she's excited, it'slike you know.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
That's probably my favorite part of all my things I
get done blood work.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
It's fun.
She talks to the doctor, shetalks to the nurses.
They're like I'm not even goingto talk to mom, I'm going to
talk to Cameron.
Speaker 1 (39:13):
Amazing, so beautiful , okay, so complete.
The statement Dance is Dance islife.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Dance is just happiness, living in the moment.
And there's always ups anddowns in dance.
There's always like you getinjured, like for, in fact, she
did the hand motion, but, um,because, like you could like one
day not know that you're gonnaget hit in the face with the
foot and then have a face facefracture, like I did.
(39:45):
And so, yeah, there's for sure,ups and downs, because I
couldn't dance for four weeksand comp just started, so I was
very behind on all my dances andI have six this year.
So that was a very like hardhead start.
But otherwise, like dance, justlike laughing, like when you're
about to go on stage or whenyou're in class and you're
(40:08):
warming up and someone liketrips and falls on accident but
it's funny.
So everyone's laughing,everyone like stops doing the
warm-up and it's just like crazy.
And then trying on the costumesand stuff, which we did um, we
didn't do yesterday, we didFriday, or no, we did do
yesterday, because Saturday wehad a seven-hour practice and,
yeah, we tried on costumes.
(40:30):
Everyone was cheering eachother up, like, wow, that that
looks really great on you Wish Ihad that costume and, yeah,
dance is just life.
I love that.
How about?
Speaker 3 (40:39):
you, Laurie, you know dance.
It's totally.
I never saw me being a dancemom, it wasn't anything I pushed
.
I'm so thankful.
You know, the people we've metin the dance world are just
amazing, and Cameron'sfriendships and the teachers and
just the studio owner.
It's like everybody's just, youknow, wonderful and it's.
(41:01):
I think it's been a reallygreat thing for our family.
You know, it brings us together.
Savannah never misses acompetition.
My family doesn't miss the comp, so it brings everybody
together and it's something tolook forward to.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
So dance is community and it's connection.
It sounds like yes, for sure.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
Yes, which is life at all?
Is that big?
Yeah, exactly Right.
So that brings us to themeaning of life.
The meaning of life is what?
Speaker 4 (41:33):
the meaning of life.
The meaning of life is what themeaning of life to me is
probably like just being withpeople that you're closest to
and living almost in the moment.
Like not worrying about, likeoh, like this guy didn't text me
back this, like other thinglike the drama, like you're just
almost living in the moment,like especially like at a
(41:56):
concert, for example, like notrecording.
You're just like.
You're like I'm just going tolive in the moment, listen to
the music and party and be withlike my mom and my sister, for
example, and like hang out andstuff.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
So yeah, or, for example, and like hang out and
stuff.
So yeah, like, what about you?
Life to me is definitely family, like that's everything over
all.
Yeah, family, and you knowfriends that are family, it's
everything yeah.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
so then the last one hope is Hope is just like almost
like I wouldn't say like hopingfor the better, but like
because there's always going tobe something that you want
better.
Because, like the saying, likeyou want what you can't have.
Like, for example, like some ofmy friends will be like, hey, I
(42:51):
like your straight hair, I wishI had straight hair.
And I was like hey, I like yourcurly hair, wish I had curly
hair, and stuff like that.
And yeah, just hope is justlike just remembering, like
where you are in life and justalways knowing that, like the
storm comes and goes, like itwill be like either the hardest
(43:13):
time, but just know not to giveup and just keep on pushing
through because the good is onthe other side and stuff.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
So yeah, girl, you have no idea.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
All right, miss Laurie hope is hope to me is,
you know, not giving up.
For me it's like a constantreminder of you know, have that
hope, don't give up, like we gotthis.
And you know with all thecommunity and friends and family
(43:44):
, and you know that's my hopeand you know just, we're not
giving it up.
Speaker 1 (43:58):
Yeah, yeah, lori and Cameron, we can't thank you
enough for taking the time andsharing with us so openly and
gorgeously, cameron.
Well, lori, you know I love youand your friend for life.
Cameron, this little talk withyou has absolutely changed me
and impacted me beautifully, andI want you to know that I thank
(44:19):
you so much for sharingyourself.
Speaker 4 (44:23):
I'm so glad that that like inspired you for sure.
Speaker 2 (44:28):
Thanks for joining us today on Soul Sisteries.
Speaker 1 (44:30):
And thanks for sharing stories with us.
We'd love to hear your storiesas well and keep the
conversation going, absolutelykeeping the hope going.
So we're really hopeful thatyou'll connect with our guests
as well, who have great storiesto share.
Go ahead and follow them invarious social media platforms
or live venues, wherever it isthat they're performing and
(44:54):
sharing what they do.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
We would love to have you follow us on all of our
social media platforms,subscribe and rate, as that will
help us get our message of hopeout to others.
Thanks for listening to SoulSisteries.
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