Naomi Best
Hi! My name is Naomi Best and I have known Camille for about 17 years now. I grew up in Hawaii and a few years ago a friend of mine in Hawaii was having surgery for thyroid cancer. My loving husband could see that I wanted to go and help her during this time. When Camille heard this, she asked if she could come along. We have been praying for salvation for several of my friends and this would be an opportunity to put the name with a face as well as have a little vacation!
While there, I took Camille to Hanauma Bay to go snorkeling. Camille used to surf all the time in southern California but I did not realize that she had never snorkeled before. We donned our fins, mask and snorkel and headed for the water. As we start to swim, Camille stopped and stood up to adjust her gear. That's fine, not a problem. We started again, swam a few feet and she stopped again. Ok, that's fine. This happens again a couple more times. At one point she had lost her underwater camera and we saw it floating about 30' away so I left her to go retrieve it. When I returned with her camera I informed her that I could not keep stopping and standing or the fish were going to get hot lunch. She said okay, thinking that I was saying that I was going to die and the fish would eat me.
We started and stopped a couple more times and then I said, okay, stand over there and I turned away from her and threw up from motion sickness. As soon as I did, she started cracking up, realizing now what I meant about hot lunch, and all these fish started swimming around us and then a couple of snorkelers came swimming right through to look at the fish and Camille was laughing hysterically, debating whether or not to tell them. She decided to just let them have a good memory. I was laughing too, now I felt better.
Camille got the hang of it and I relaxed on the beach while she enjoyed the fish for a while. We both look back at that day when we need a good laugh!
Marsha and Ed McKay
During church today, one of our church members shared with Pastor Ed that she had just received the diagnosis - breast cancer. She was truly shaken by the news. During Pastor's sermon, he felt led to ask Camille to come and pray with our friend. After church, Camille spoke with her more intently and shared the "options" and "how to's" that are available to us. Our church member was comforted and strengthened!
I believe Camille is home at this particular time for a reason! We need to be available to talk with and help those who come across our paths. Keep our eyes open for opportunities to help, inspire and encourage!
Over the many years of friendship with Camille and John, they have always been willing to help those who come their way. May we all rally to help this wonderful family as they walk through this difficult time.
Janet Lucas
I don't even know where to begin without feeling like I'm leaving out important things, so I'll tell three brief stories.
1--We first met when I turned in my application to the Café Garden Restaurant. She was so nice I thought, "I have so got to work here!" After a few weeks of persistent checking back, I found myself being trained by Camille on dinner shift. I was shadowing her, watching her every move because I could see how terrific she was with every customer and must've been making big bucks! She took her table's dinner order and asked if they wanted rice, pasta, or potatoes as their side dish. They asked her what she liked. She replied with her usual Camilly smile, "Well, just look at my Chinky eyes! I like the rice of course!" I immediately knew I had chosen the right place to work.
2--We came into work for some food on a hot summer day wearing tank tops. Anyone who's seen Camille during the summer knows she has three large scars near one of her shoulders from a horseback riding accident. (Also one of her three--count 'em, three!--concussions). One of our fellow workers asked her where the scar came from and without batting an eye and with a perfectly straight face, she said from her part-time job as a lion tamer. Later, another person asked the same question, and this time she told them it was from a bear attack when she was out hiking.
3--One of my favorite days of my entire life was when Mariah was born. We had gone together to her midwife appointments; I was fascinated because I never knew anyone brave enough to give birth at home. Labor started, and I made phone calls. The house was quiet with Camille and John and the midwives in the bedroom and the occasional family member dropping by to check in. Somehow everyone knew when the moment was drawing nearer because the bedroom started filling with people. In spite of the crowd, the atmosphere hushed, anticipating. Camille never uttered a sound. Not a groan, not a sigh...just long breaths, in and out with the midwife's soft words. Before long, Mariah's head emerged and quickly the rest of her. The voices in the bedroom grew a little louder, and suddenly I heard Camille say, "Whoever's got the camera, turn it on Janet. I know she's crying." Sure enough, there I was immortalized in Camille's video collection with tears streaming down my cheeks. The best part, if there anything could be labeled "best" that day, was that I was the first one who got to hold little Mariah after Camille and John cleaned her up and wrapped her in a blanket.
Sharon Ward
Sharon's Camille Story
I really got to know Camille during our church vacation Bible schools at Hillcrest Baptist Church in the summer several years back. She and her lovely daughter Sierra are always eager to help with the decorations each year. A couple years ago our VBS theme was all about Australia, “the land down under. “ That year we happened to have a hot summer so we had a few little garter snakes hanging out around the church. About two weeks before VBS, we were pulling decorations out of the room, and suddenly saw the first SNAKE (!) come out from under the baptistry in the storage area. It startled me and I had to scream and go running over to where Camille was working away on a fabulous real looking rock wall. She was rolling on the floor- laughing “with” me. I remember she said, "He would of been more scared of you than you were of him.” “ All I could say was, REALLY. REALLY?” I had the heebeegeebees by then. Well I decided to work next to Camille for the rest of that day.
The very next Sunday there was another snake, this time in my Sunday School classroom! I tried to get one of our elders, Don Clayton, to remove it off the premises, but he was just as afraid of it as I was. Well, Camille heard about that one. And so by the first day of VBS I had about 50 insects and baby mice and snakes all over the church, plastic of course. But I never saw another real snake in the church again. I wonder who placed all those criters there? Hmmmmm…
Camille is one awesome friend. She always finds time to hang out with you through thick and thin. She is wonderful. She loves you unconditionally. No matter what your life is about or what you have been through, she is your friend. Camille will call you up at 5:30 in the morning and help you talk to God about your stress and your marriage and your daily hurts and joys in your life and she won’t judge you. She is the friend that everyone needs. Thank you Camille for being there for me.
Melia Espejo-Amira
Wow, where do I even begin? I probably have a bazillion stories about my big sister. I could tell you stories of how she put me in the clothes dryer and turned it on, or threw me out our front door stark naked and taught me how to shop lift (do you know if you get caught, all you have to do is start speaking some weird jibberish language and they’ll let you go?!?!) She took me to my first concert in Los Angeles. 1978 Queen’s News of the World Tour… oh my gosh, it was amazing, Queen was my favorite! (of course I had to do her chores and laundry for a month, maybe longer, but it was soooo worth it!)
I do want to share the true story behind the scars near her shoulder. Camille and I were invited to go horseback riding with a friend of a friend of our mom’s. It’s funny that I can’t remember his name because back then I had the biggest crush on him. However, put quirky short little me next to my amazingly beautiful sister and who do you think he’s going to pay more attention to? I didn’t get mad at him, I was angry with Camille and she didn’t even care if he was around, she was just having a fun day with her little sister. Camille was always athletic and a good rider, so it wasn’t a surprise to me when she told the man at the stable that she wanted to ride bare back. Camille came up behind me and said, “Let’s race!” Off we went, but when we got to the hill, I chickened out. As she went racing down the hill I watched her from my slow pace near the top. Another rider came across her path and Camille’s horse going at full speed and unable to slow in time, ran right into the other horse. I saw my sister fly off the back of the horse and land flat on her back and I busted out laughing. After all, that’s what she gets for showing off I thought. When I reached her, she was unconscious. I of course thought she was messing with me for laughing so I started yelling at her, telling her it’s not funny, I even kicked her a couple of times, then she went into convulsions causing reality to set in, I panicked and began yelling at the other rider, “You killed my sister, you killed my sister!!!” Just then I saw a car coming up the road and ran towards it waving my arms and screaming at the top of my lungs. Two guys got out of the car and the third guy raced back to the stables for help. One of the guys took his jacket off and put it under Camille’s head while the other one had his arm around me for comfort, as I glanced up at him with tears streaming down my face, he looked down and said, "hey your kinda cute" I was shocked and said, "whats wrong with you!!". When the guy lifted her head we saw the blood and the rock she hit her head on. The ambulance came and took us to the hospital, Auntie Ellie, Uncle Louie and our daddy met us there and sat with me as I cried uncontrollably and constantly scared that my sister was dead as I never saw her wake up before they took her in. Finally the nurse came out and told us she had a concussion, they were stitching up her cuts and that she would be fine. When I asked if I could see her, they said she was asking for that guy we went with… I can’t tell you how mad I got at her for that… Now, I know this isn’t a funny story, but EVERYTIME Camille and I talk about it, Camille just laughs and laughs at me. She always says that she doesn’t remember any of it, but every time she pictures me she can’t help it, she goes on and on making fun of me…
That’s Camille! She ALWAYS sees the lighter, funnier side of things… even cancer. I remember talking to her when she was in her first battle. She was so positive and upbeat and was telling me about the kids giving her a Liberty Mohawk, dressing her up and taking pictures. I asked her, “How do you do it sis? How are you being so strong?” to which her answer was, “I have daughters and a granddaughter, I pray that they never have to go through anything like this, but if they do, I want to show them how to trust God and fight well. I want to be a strong example to them.” She talked to me about her faith in God and we cried together. Later that year, after her surgery, we were at our mom’s with our other sister, Michelle for a family party. I remember mom asking Camille to help set up the dutch ovens, as she came out the back door with a pitcher of water, Camille looked at me with a sad face and said, “Lia, can you do this, I can’t because I have cancer.” I quickly took the pitcher from her to finish the job as she relaxed. There were a few other chores mom asked her to do that she got me to do with the same line… later that night, the three of us were bunking together in the same room. Camille reached to pull out the trundle bed and made that same sad face and said, “Lia, can you get my bed ready for me, I can’t, I have cancer”. I stomped my foot at her and told her she needed to stop saying that, I’ll do whatever you want, but it’s really upsetting me. She just giggled, came over to me and gave me the biggest hug and told me not to worry, no matter what, she was going to be okay.
Those words and that hug from her would play over and over in my head when I got the call from her that the cancer was back. Now, I’m not as “religious” as my sister, I don’t regularly attend church. But, I do believe in God and I knew how important it was to my sister if I would simply say a prayer for her. I began praying every day, morning, noon and night. I prayed in the shower, on my walks, sitting at my desk at work and even while driving. I started noticing all the simple beautiful things around me, I felt more patient and more hopeful every day. My friends were praying and being incredibly supportive to me and our family. When we got the news that the tumor was in fact operable… well, the sky opened up and shone brighter than it had in a very long time. I believe in the power of prayer, I believe my sister when she tells me that God has been laying a path for her. I am in awe of her that she is taking this whole ordeal that has been her life for all these months and she’s turning it into something that can help others that may be suffering or scared.
In November when Camille had her left breast removed, I called and checked on her regularly and we talked and giggled as we always do. I remember hanging up the phone wishing I could just hug her when all of a sudden, my phone made a sound. A picture mail from my sister!!! Yes, a photo of her fake boob in its original box with the word, “LIA” on it. The message from her said, “Now every time I touch my boob, I’ll think of you, ” to which my response was..."Thank you?!?!"
Camille is one of the most, if not the most joyful person to be around. She is always there if you need her, even if it’s just to vent. She finds joy in the oddest places and is genuinely happy to share it with you. She makes the most out of life, she will always put others needs ahead of her own. I think back on her response about being a mother and grandmother and wanting to set a good example to her girls. I’m here to tell you that not only is she a wonderful example to her children and granddaughter, but also to her family, friends and even people that don’t know her personally. She’s an inspiration! I am so proud of my sister and I can honestly say, a big part of who I am is because of her!
I LOVE YOU SISSY!!!
Hi! My name is Naomi Best and I have known Camille for about 17 years now. I grew up in Hawaii and a few years ago a friend of mine in Hawaii was having surgery for thyroid cancer. My loving husband could see that I wanted to go and help her during this time. When Camille heard this, she asked if she could come along. We have been praying for salvation for several of my friends and this would be an opportunity to put the name with a face as well as have a little vacation!
While there, I took Camille to Hanauma Bay to go snorkeling. Camille used to surf all the time in southern California but I did not realize that she had never snorkeled before. We donned our fins, mask and snorkel and headed for the water. As we start to swim, Camille stopped and stood up to adjust her gear. That's fine, not a problem. We started again, swam a few feet and she stopped again. Ok, that's fine. This happens again a couple more times. At one point she had lost her underwater camera and we saw it floating about 30' away so I left her to go retrieve it. When I returned with her camera I informed her that I could not keep stopping and standing or the fish were going to get hot lunch. She said okay, thinking that I was saying that I was going to die and the fish would eat me.
We started and stopped a couple more times and then I said, okay, stand over there and I turned away from her and threw up from motion sickness. As soon as I did, she started cracking up, realizing now what I meant about hot lunch, and all these fish started swimming around us and then a couple of snorkelers came swimming right through to look at the fish and Camille was laughing hysterically, debating whether or not to tell them. She decided to just let them have a good memory. I was laughing too, now I felt better.
Camille got the hang of it and I relaxed on the beach while she enjoyed the fish for a while. We both look back at that day when we need a good laugh!
Marsha and Ed McKay
During church today, one of our church members shared with Pastor Ed that she had just received the diagnosis - breast cancer. She was truly shaken by the news. During Pastor's sermon, he felt led to ask Camille to come and pray with our friend. After church, Camille spoke with her more intently and shared the "options" and "how to's" that are available to us. Our church member was comforted and strengthened!
I believe Camille is home at this particular time for a reason! We need to be available to talk with and help those who come across our paths. Keep our eyes open for opportunities to help, inspire and encourage!
Over the many years of friendship with Camille and John, they have always been willing to help those who come their way. May we all rally to help this wonderful family as they walk through this difficult time.
Janet Lucas
I don't even know where to begin without feeling like I'm leaving out important things, so I'll tell three brief stories.
1--We first met when I turned in my application to the Café Garden Restaurant. She was so nice I thought, "I have so got to work here!" After a few weeks of persistent checking back, I found myself being trained by Camille on dinner shift. I was shadowing her, watching her every move because I could see how terrific she was with every customer and must've been making big bucks! She took her table's dinner order and asked if they wanted rice, pasta, or potatoes as their side dish. They asked her what she liked. She replied with her usual Camilly smile, "Well, just look at my Chinky eyes! I like the rice of course!" I immediately knew I had chosen the right place to work.
2--We came into work for some food on a hot summer day wearing tank tops. Anyone who's seen Camille during the summer knows she has three large scars near one of her shoulders from a horseback riding accident. (Also one of her three--count 'em, three!--concussions). One of our fellow workers asked her where the scar came from and without batting an eye and with a perfectly straight face, she said from her part-time job as a lion tamer. Later, another person asked the same question, and this time she told them it was from a bear attack when she was out hiking.
3--One of my favorite days of my entire life was when Mariah was born. We had gone together to her midwife appointments; I was fascinated because I never knew anyone brave enough to give birth at home. Labor started, and I made phone calls. The house was quiet with Camille and John and the midwives in the bedroom and the occasional family member dropping by to check in. Somehow everyone knew when the moment was drawing nearer because the bedroom started filling with people. In spite of the crowd, the atmosphere hushed, anticipating. Camille never uttered a sound. Not a groan, not a sigh...just long breaths, in and out with the midwife's soft words. Before long, Mariah's head emerged and quickly the rest of her. The voices in the bedroom grew a little louder, and suddenly I heard Camille say, "Whoever's got the camera, turn it on Janet. I know she's crying." Sure enough, there I was immortalized in Camille's video collection with tears streaming down my cheeks. The best part, if there anything could be labeled "best" that day, was that I was the first one who got to hold little Mariah after Camille and John cleaned her up and wrapped her in a blanket.
Sharon Ward
Sharon's Camille Story
I really got to know Camille during our church vacation Bible schools at Hillcrest Baptist Church in the summer several years back. She and her lovely daughter Sierra are always eager to help with the decorations each year. A couple years ago our VBS theme was all about Australia, “the land down under. “ That year we happened to have a hot summer so we had a few little garter snakes hanging out around the church. About two weeks before VBS, we were pulling decorations out of the room, and suddenly saw the first SNAKE (!) come out from under the baptistry in the storage area. It startled me and I had to scream and go running over to where Camille was working away on a fabulous real looking rock wall. She was rolling on the floor- laughing “with” me. I remember she said, "He would of been more scared of you than you were of him.” “ All I could say was, REALLY. REALLY?” I had the heebeegeebees by then. Well I decided to work next to Camille for the rest of that day.
The very next Sunday there was another snake, this time in my Sunday School classroom! I tried to get one of our elders, Don Clayton, to remove it off the premises, but he was just as afraid of it as I was. Well, Camille heard about that one. And so by the first day of VBS I had about 50 insects and baby mice and snakes all over the church, plastic of course. But I never saw another real snake in the church again. I wonder who placed all those criters there? Hmmmmm…
Camille is one awesome friend. She always finds time to hang out with you through thick and thin. She is wonderful. She loves you unconditionally. No matter what your life is about or what you have been through, she is your friend. Camille will call you up at 5:30 in the morning and help you talk to God about your stress and your marriage and your daily hurts and joys in your life and she won’t judge you. She is the friend that everyone needs. Thank you Camille for being there for me.
Melia Espejo-Amira
Wow, where do I even begin? I probably have a bazillion stories about my big sister. I could tell you stories of how she put me in the clothes dryer and turned it on, or threw me out our front door stark naked and taught me how to shop lift (do you know if you get caught, all you have to do is start speaking some weird jibberish language and they’ll let you go?!?!) She took me to my first concert in Los Angeles. 1978 Queen’s News of the World Tour… oh my gosh, it was amazing, Queen was my favorite! (of course I had to do her chores and laundry for a month, maybe longer, but it was soooo worth it!)
I do want to share the true story behind the scars near her shoulder. Camille and I were invited to go horseback riding with a friend of a friend of our mom’s. It’s funny that I can’t remember his name because back then I had the biggest crush on him. However, put quirky short little me next to my amazingly beautiful sister and who do you think he’s going to pay more attention to? I didn’t get mad at him, I was angry with Camille and she didn’t even care if he was around, she was just having a fun day with her little sister. Camille was always athletic and a good rider, so it wasn’t a surprise to me when she told the man at the stable that she wanted to ride bare back. Camille came up behind me and said, “Let’s race!” Off we went, but when we got to the hill, I chickened out. As she went racing down the hill I watched her from my slow pace near the top. Another rider came across her path and Camille’s horse going at full speed and unable to slow in time, ran right into the other horse. I saw my sister fly off the back of the horse and land flat on her back and I busted out laughing. After all, that’s what she gets for showing off I thought. When I reached her, she was unconscious. I of course thought she was messing with me for laughing so I started yelling at her, telling her it’s not funny, I even kicked her a couple of times, then she went into convulsions causing reality to set in, I panicked and began yelling at the other rider, “You killed my sister, you killed my sister!!!” Just then I saw a car coming up the road and ran towards it waving my arms and screaming at the top of my lungs. Two guys got out of the car and the third guy raced back to the stables for help. One of the guys took his jacket off and put it under Camille’s head while the other one had his arm around me for comfort, as I glanced up at him with tears streaming down my face, he looked down and said, "hey your kinda cute" I was shocked and said, "whats wrong with you!!". When the guy lifted her head we saw the blood and the rock she hit her head on. The ambulance came and took us to the hospital, Auntie Ellie, Uncle Louie and our daddy met us there and sat with me as I cried uncontrollably and constantly scared that my sister was dead as I never saw her wake up before they took her in. Finally the nurse came out and told us she had a concussion, they were stitching up her cuts and that she would be fine. When I asked if I could see her, they said she was asking for that guy we went with… I can’t tell you how mad I got at her for that… Now, I know this isn’t a funny story, but EVERYTIME Camille and I talk about it, Camille just laughs and laughs at me. She always says that she doesn’t remember any of it, but every time she pictures me she can’t help it, she goes on and on making fun of me…
That’s Camille! She ALWAYS sees the lighter, funnier side of things… even cancer. I remember talking to her when she was in her first battle. She was so positive and upbeat and was telling me about the kids giving her a Liberty Mohawk, dressing her up and taking pictures. I asked her, “How do you do it sis? How are you being so strong?” to which her answer was, “I have daughters and a granddaughter, I pray that they never have to go through anything like this, but if they do, I want to show them how to trust God and fight well. I want to be a strong example to them.” She talked to me about her faith in God and we cried together. Later that year, after her surgery, we were at our mom’s with our other sister, Michelle for a family party. I remember mom asking Camille to help set up the dutch ovens, as she came out the back door with a pitcher of water, Camille looked at me with a sad face and said, “Lia, can you do this, I can’t because I have cancer.” I quickly took the pitcher from her to finish the job as she relaxed. There were a few other chores mom asked her to do that she got me to do with the same line… later that night, the three of us were bunking together in the same room. Camille reached to pull out the trundle bed and made that same sad face and said, “Lia, can you get my bed ready for me, I can’t, I have cancer”. I stomped my foot at her and told her she needed to stop saying that, I’ll do whatever you want, but it’s really upsetting me. She just giggled, came over to me and gave me the biggest hug and told me not to worry, no matter what, she was going to be okay.
Those words and that hug from her would play over and over in my head when I got the call from her that the cancer was back. Now, I’m not as “religious” as my sister, I don’t regularly attend church. But, I do believe in God and I knew how important it was to my sister if I would simply say a prayer for her. I began praying every day, morning, noon and night. I prayed in the shower, on my walks, sitting at my desk at work and even while driving. I started noticing all the simple beautiful things around me, I felt more patient and more hopeful every day. My friends were praying and being incredibly supportive to me and our family. When we got the news that the tumor was in fact operable… well, the sky opened up and shone brighter than it had in a very long time. I believe in the power of prayer, I believe my sister when she tells me that God has been laying a path for her. I am in awe of her that she is taking this whole ordeal that has been her life for all these months and she’s turning it into something that can help others that may be suffering or scared.
In November when Camille had her left breast removed, I called and checked on her regularly and we talked and giggled as we always do. I remember hanging up the phone wishing I could just hug her when all of a sudden, my phone made a sound. A picture mail from my sister!!! Yes, a photo of her fake boob in its original box with the word, “LIA” on it. The message from her said, “Now every time I touch my boob, I’ll think of you, ” to which my response was..."Thank you?!?!"
Camille is one of the most, if not the most joyful person to be around. She is always there if you need her, even if it’s just to vent. She finds joy in the oddest places and is genuinely happy to share it with you. She makes the most out of life, she will always put others needs ahead of her own. I think back on her response about being a mother and grandmother and wanting to set a good example to her girls. I’m here to tell you that not only is she a wonderful example to her children and granddaughter, but also to her family, friends and even people that don’t know her personally. She’s an inspiration! I am so proud of my sister and I can honestly say, a big part of who I am is because of her!
I LOVE YOU SISSY!!!