05:58 PM PDT on Sunday, October 3, 2004

By ROBERTA ROMERO / KING 5 News

KING Cameron Rawlings, foreground, and her brother Wilson.

SEATTLE - Little Cameron Rawlings knows about life's ups and downs only too well. Even before she was born she was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis.

"My daughter was diagnosed with it when I was 35 weeks pregnant and I had never heard of it," said Kay Rawlings.

Kay had to take a crash course in tuberous sclerosis, a genetic condition that happens at birth.

"The gene that prevents tumors from growing in the body's major organs mutates at baby's conception," she said.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Cameron is living with two tubers and a tumor on her brain. She has spent much of her young life in doctor's offices and hospitals. But with 6-year-old brother Wilson at her side, Cameron is growing up as normally as possible.

"That is the very difficult and challenging thing about TS," said Kay. "A child can be diagnosed with it and have certain symptoms you feel are under control and when that child turns into an adult and is 30 years old, all of a sudden another symptom pops up. So there's no end to it."

Kay is hoping to help find that end. She organized the first ever tuberous sclerosis walk in seattle. Money will go the TS Alliance to help other families and for research.

"It's as common as Lou Gehrig's disease but people just don't know about it, so we really want to get the word out about TS and hopefully find a cure for this," she said.

All are welcome to participate in the TS walkathon on Oct. 9. Registration is at 9 a.m., with the walk at 10 a.m. at Seattle's Warren G. Magnuson Park at Sand Point.