Camerons compete to get back to the football field

WACO, Texas ( FOX 44 ) — Competition is close to the five that comprise the Cameron household.

“Our whole family… we’re a competitive bunch. I’ll put it like that,” Andrea Cameron said.

Baylor junior wide receiver Josh Cameron grew up with that competitive fire, something he carried over to his time in the Green and Gold.

“I tell [Josh] all the time…you’re part of my inspiration because watching him fight and scrap and do everything to get to where he is, I’m just like, ‘You go, son,'” Andrea Cameron, Josh’s mom, said.

Josh entered the Baylor football program as a walk on, a decision his parents supported all the way. He told his parents, Gaius and Andrea, that they wouldn’t have to pay for his college for long.

“I promise you,” Josh told his parents. “You’re not going to have to pay for my college very long. I’m going on scholarship.”

That promise paid off with Josh earning a scholarship his sophomore year in 2022, becoming a starter in the receivers room. His goal for the 2024 season is simple… win.

“I’ve just always been a big competitor and I just I don’t like to lose,” Josh Cameron said. “So, that’s just the next big thing.”

The same can be said for his mother, Andrea, who only missed two Baylor football games in three seasons despite her 16-year fight with Pulmonary Fibrosis, a disease that scars the lung tissue and hardens the lungs, making it harder for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream.

After a lengthy fight, Andrea’s lungs had deteriorated and doctors listed a double lung transplant as her only option to live.

On December 15th, 2023, Andrea went on the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, list to look for a donor. Two weeks later, she received a call that the doctors had a new set of lungs for her and underwent a successful surgery the day after.

However, Andrea’s adversity proved to be far from over. On January 18th, 2024, Andrea went into cardiac arrest, causing her heart to stop beating for 20 minutes.

The doctors revived her but not without damage to her brain. Andrea relearned how to walk and talk, extending her road to a full recovery.

“I’ve really never seen my mom kind of in that state before,” Josh Cameron said. “My brother and I both like definitely had a lot of emotions coming out.”

Cameron now is going through physical therapy, with a hopeful timetable of a late July return to be back in time to watch Josh take the field when Baylor opens the season against Tarleton State on Saturday, August 31st.

Due to a change in coverage by her insurance company, Andrea started a ‘GoFundMe’ to help cover her costs. The immediately came to Andrea’s aide, helping her complete her goal of $10,000 raised in a little under two weeks! To help contribute to Andrea’s fight, you can donate here .

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