Cameron Mathison’s remarkable health journey is one of strength and determination. In an Instagram post shared on March 9, the former Hallmark actor opened up about having Perthes, a rare degenerative bone disease, as a young boy.
Mathison penned an emotive statement in the caption of his 11-photo carousel, explaining the measures he needed to take to make his bones stronger.
The images shared by the “General Hospital” star show a young Mathison wearing a metal leg brace, used to support his body, seeing that his legs couldn’t. The actor wore the metal brace for four years, allowing him to walk on his own as his life continued.
Cameron Mathison’s Perthes Disease
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Legg Calve Perthes disease “affects the growing end of the femur bone that fits into your child’s hip socket.” This happens when the top of the thigh bone loses blood supply, causing “the end of the bone to break down and then regenerate over several years.” If left untreated, as an adult, one can develop hip dysplasia and arthritis.
In Mathison’s Instagram caption, he expressed how thankful he is to have had the opportunity to correct his condition with the metal leg brace, also thanking his brother, Scott Mathison, for being the strong support that he needed at the time
“Always smiling ☺️. From the age of 2.5 to 7 l wore this metal leg brace day and night. It only came off when I was put in the bath,” the Great American Family actor wrote. “I had a degenerative bone disease in the head of both my femur bones (Legg Calve Perthes disease) that made it impossible for my legs to support the weight of my body.”
Cameron Mathison ‘Grateful’ for What His Perthes Condition Taught Him
“By putting my legs out wide, and in a sense replacing them with the metal bars and brace, my femur bones were able to heal and harden over the course of about 4 years,” he continued. “I’ve always said I am grateful for this experience as it taught me a lot.”
Mathison said that his Perthes journey taught him “compassion for those struggling [and] empathy for those being bullied.” He also said he learned how “to not be defined by or to identify with the limited versions of ourselves regardless of what our limitations or challenges are.”
The 56-year-old ended his explanation with a shoutout to his brother, writing, “(The last few photos are with my brother who was my biggest champion and hero, and helped me get through that challenging time 🙏🏼❤️).”
Mathison’s health as a young boy isn’t the only time his wellness has been challenged, either. In 2019, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, People reported. After undergoing surgery to remove a tumor in his right kidney, Mathison was well on his way to remission and has now been six years cancer-free.
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Cameron Mathison Vulnerably Opens Up on Battling Rare Bone Disease as a Child: PHOTOS