Family Stories
The McBanes find a Home, and a Name, in Baltimore
By Jasmine Touton
The first thing Julie and Chad McBane did after they checked out of the hospital following the birth of their one-and-a-half-year-old son, Camden: check into the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Julie and Chad did not plan on coming to Baltimore via overnight drive, one thousand miles from their Florida home. Nor did they expect to get a room at the Children’s House following the birth of Camden, who is a bladder exstrophy patient. They did know one thing, however, after staying at the Children’s House on several return visits: they needed to find a way to give back.
“It’s just so valuable to bond with other families when you are about to go through something,” says Julie.
When the pair of sixth grade teachers, who met on a blind date and were engaged three months later, learned their baby had bladder exstrophy 31 weeks into pregnancy, Chad came up with a plan: bring the family to Baltimore for the birth so their son could have the best bladder exstrophy doctor possible.
“I was like, ‘We are not going to Baltimore to have this baby,’” says Julie.
Three weeks later Chad had Julie convinced and three days before they were scheduled to fly to Baltimore for Camden’s birth, Julie went into contractions. Doctors in Florida gave her medicine to stop them. The next day the McBanes drove through the night to get to Baltimore.
After Camden’s birth, Believe In Tomorrow invited the McBanes to check into the Children’s House upon receiving a referral from their social worker. Doctors at Johns Hopkins performed a couple of exploratory surgeries on Camden and determined it would be best to wait sixth months for the first of what would be several surgeries throughout Camden’s life. That also meant several more stays at the Children’s House, where the McBanes found relief in the comforts of home.
“My husband liked the Wii,” says Julie, “It was a good stress reliever. My favorite part was the kitchen and the food.”
Through all of the visits, including one where Camden watched baseball at his namesake stadium, Camden Yards, Julie says the family couldn’t have done it without staying at the Children’s House.
“They make the best out of the situation that is a little rough,” says Julie. She added later: “It’s small and quaint and you actually get to know people there. It’s just that smiling face when you need a pick-me-up.”
The McBanes have already given back to Believe In Tomorrow by donating funds raised from Camden’s first birthday for wish list items like a color printer and microwave. They’ll be back to Baltimore once a year for check-ups and at 7, Camden will undergo another major surgery. But for now, he’s walking through his new playhouse (just like the one at the Children’s House) and going with mom for beach workouts.
“He’s a beach bum,” says Julie. “It’s just amazing the way kids bounce back.”