As Christmas lights flicker across Owensboro, the Gish family is reminded that real light doesn’t come from decorations — it comes from faith, determination, and the people who refuse to let you walk through darkness alone.
Just a few months ago, 12-year-old Camden “Cam” Gish was a healthy, soccer-loving boy whose biggest worries were game days and Fortnite battles. Today, as Christmas approaches, he and his family look back on a year that tested every ounce of strength they had — and revealed a kind of hope they didn’t know was possible.
A Normal Night That Changed Everything
It was an ordinary night in early 2025 when Emily and Brett Gish said goodnight to their four children — daughter Kensley, 16; Camden, 12; Easton,9; and Tucker, 5. But a few hours later, that sense of normalcy was shattered.
“Cam went to bed that night perfectly normal,” Emily recalls. “He woke up about two hours later in excruciating pain and numbness in his right arm. Shortly after, he started losing sensation and movement in his right leg.”
Within moments, their son — a fierce athlete and energetic 12-year-old — could no longer move. The family rushed him to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, where doctors quickly decided he needed to be flown to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville.
At Norton’s, the Gishes received news that no parent can ever truly prepare for: Cam had an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) — a tangle of blood vessels that disrupts normal blood flow — in his spinal cord at the C4 level. When it ruptured, pressure built up inside his spinal column, damaging his spinal cord and causing paralysis.
Doctors immediately performed surgery to address the area and relieve the pressure, but afterward, it became a waiting game — one filled with uncertainty, prayer, and hope. No one could predict how much function Cam might regain or how his body would respond. All the family could do was trust, wait, and believe that healing would come in time.
“When Brett and I were told the severity of his condition, we were in complete shock,” Emily says quietly. “We were terrified.”
Finding Peace in the Storm
Camden spent weeks in the hospital processing what had happened to him. There were tears, anger, confusion — and then, remarkably, peace.
“Cam had his mental ups and downs,” Emily admits. “But through it all, he had trust in the Lord. That brought him unexplainable peace.”
That faith would become the foundation for everything that followed.
The family says the doctors at Norton’s called Cam’s case “unique and rare.” AVMs are rare enough on their own — but they’re almost always found in the brain, not the spinal cord. Spinal AVMs are so uncommon that there’s very little medical literature about treatment or outcomes. That Cam survived, and that Norton’s team identified and treated his condition so quickly, was “a miracle in itself.”
Relearning to Move — and to Hope
When Cam was transferred to Frazier Rehabilitation Institute, he could move only his left arm slightly. He couldn’t breathe on his own, swallow safely, or feed himself. His prognosis was grim.
But Cam had other plans.
“I liked rehab because it helped me get better,” he says with a grin that belies the grit behind his words.
Every day, he pushed his body beyond its limits — through pain, exhaustion, and frustration. He endured electrical stimulation therapy, hours of strength training, and endless practice learning to reconnect brain to muscle. Slowly, his body began to respond.
“He worked hard every single day,” Emily says. “It was hard watching him struggle, but we celebrated every single miracle he was blessed with.”
Cam went from being ventilator-dependent to breathing on his own. His tracheostomy was removed. He learned to swallow and eat again. And then, against all odds, he took his first steps — first with a walker, then with help, and eventually, a few unassisted steps on his own.
“When he entered rehab, Camden was considered a quadriplegic,” Emily says. “Today, Camden looks and acts like a normal kid. He still requires support, but he can walk with a walker and take a few steps alone. He’s surpassed every expectation.”
A Family’s New Normal
Life at home looks different now. Adjustments are constant — equipment, therapy, and new routines fill their days — but the Gish home is also filled with gratitude and laughter.
“Adjusting to our new normal has been challenging,” Emily admits, “but Easton and Tucker jump in wherever they can to help their brother. They are so proud of him.”
Cam’s courage has inspired not just his family, but an entire community. Even in the rehab center, Emily says, he was known for encouraging other patients to keep going.
“Even on his bad days, he was able to encourage others,” she says. “He’s used his pain as motivation — a way to reach out to others struggling. He’s taught us all that bad things happen, but God has a plan.”
The Community That Became Family
That plan, it seems, included showing just how powerful a small town can be when it comes together.
The Owensboro Catholic Schools system and Owensboro United soccer family wrapped the Gishes in unwavering support. Teachers and staff helped Cam continue schoolwork from a distance. His soccer teams made sure he stayed connected to the sport he loves.
“These communities hold such a special place in our hearts,” Emily says. “Over the years, they’ve become our family, and the support we’ve received has shown us just that.”
Fundraisers popped up across the city — t-shirt sales, benefits, and prayer events — all in Cam’s honor. Green shirts with “Camden Strong” appeared everywhere: on classmates, coaches, teammates, even complete strangers.
“Seeing all those shirts being worn by friends, family, and strangers touched us immensely,” Emily says. “Just knowing so many people were thinking about and cared about him was truly heartwarming.”
The Gishes say every donation, every message, every hug reminded them of God’s presence through His people.
“The kindness has been a true blessing,” Emily says. “It’s been a reminder of God’s faithfulness even in the hardest moments. We’ve felt His comfort through every act of love.”
Faith That Lights the Dark
There were nights, Emily admits, when fear crept in — when she replayed the what-ifs and the what-could-have-beens. But she and Brett kept coming back to the same truth: their family wasn’t walking this road alone.
“This experience has strengthened our faith and changed the way we see the world,” she says. “We’ve learned to lean on God in a deeper way, trusting His plan even when we don’t understand it.”
They’ve also seen firsthand the goodness that still exists in people — the kind of compassion that quietly restores faith in humanity.
“We’ve seen how God works through others,” Emily reflects, “through their prayers, kindness, and love to bring comfort and hope when it’s needed most.”
Cam echoes that strength in his own words:
“By being brave I was able to overcome hard times, not give up, and do things that others said were impossible.”
Steps Toward Tomorrow
As Christmas draws near, the Gish family is celebrating more than a holiday — they’re celebrating how far they’ve come, and the faith that carried them here.
“We are most thankful for the gift of life,” Emily says. “And most importantly, the gift of our faith.”
They’re also looking ahead to what’s next. The hope is for Cam to return to Owensboro Catholic after the holidays — a goal he’s eager to reach.
“I might be nervous the first few days,” he says, “but I’m excited to see my friends and feel normal again.”
And of course, there’s soccer — always soccer.
“I want to walk and play soccer again,” he says firmly, his determination shining through.
For now, he’s celebrating each milestone — every step, every smile, every Christmas moment surrounded by the people who love him most.
“Having our family together again,” Emily says softly, “when a few months ago we didn’t know what the future would hold, means more than we can put into words.”
Hope and Healing
The Gishes hope that by sharing their story, they can encourage others who may be walking through dark or uncertain seasons.
“Our family hopes to remind others that you are never alone,” Emily says. “Even when life feels heavy and uncertain, God’s love is constant, and His strength is enough to carry you through. There is always light, even in the darkest moments.”
And maybe that’s what makes this story so fitting for Christmas — a season that reminds us all that light came into the world when things seemed most hopeless.
For the Gish family, that light now shines through a brave young boy who refused to give up, through a community that rallied in love, and through faith that held strong when fear tried to take over.
Camden’s journey is far from over — but as his family will tell you, he’s already done what many thought was impossible.
