As a young boy, Cameron Craig struggled to catch or kick a ball.

He was born prematurely and suffered dyspraxia – a developmental condition that causes problems with coordination and movement.

But after having treatment, Cameron developed a love of sport.

And now, at the age of 22, he’s on the brink of a professional career as an American football player.

Cameron was born six weeks early and his parents Scott and Louise feared he might not survive.

They named him after Professor Alan Cameron, the obstetrician who saved his life at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children.

When he looks back on his childhood, Cameron can’t believe how far he’s come, from the tiny premature baby to a 6ft 4in mountain of a man.

He has been offered a professional football contract with the Las Vegas Cobras to play in the arena league in January 2019.

Cameron, who only took up the sport four years ago, believes he could be the first Scottish player to be given such an opportunity without going through the
American school system.

The contract opens up potential future opportunities to play in the NFL or CFL – which would be his dream.

Cameron picked the No64 to wear on his jersey as both his parents were born in 1964 and he wanted to thank them for everything they’ve done for him to get him to where he is now.

Before Cameron was born, he had to undergo two life-saving blood transfusions in the womb.

His parents already had a healthy daughter, Hannah, now, 27.

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But Louise has rhesus negative blood and Cameron was rhesus positive. While pregnant, she began to produce antibodies that attacked the baby’s blood and led to his heart rate slowing down.

The couple were warned that signs of fluid on their baby’s spine meant he could be born with a severe disability.

Cameron’s condition worsened and he had to be delivered at 34 weeks.

He weighed 7lb 7oz due to a build-up of fluid but his weight dropped to 5lbs.

Cameron was later diagnosed with dyspraxia.

He said: “In the early days before treatment, I would really struggle with catching a ball.

“My dad used to take me to the local park to kick a ball around but I would miss completely if I tried to kick it and wouldn’t be able to catch it.”

Staff at Dollar Academy, where he was a pupil, realised there was a problem and he was referred for tests. Cameron was diagnosed with dyspraxia at the age of seven.

He was given special exercises and had to use audio equipment to improve problems with his hearing.

He said: “The position I play in American football involves passing the ball to the quarterback and you’ve got to listen to their instructions while there are other noises around.

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“Without the sort of treatment I had, that would be completely impossible.”

The family moved to England when Cameron was about 11 – and he feels most of the problems had been corrected by then.

“It’s never going to be as good as it could have been had I been born at full-term – but it’s certainly corrected a huge percentage and made a massive difference,” he said.

“It’s quite something when I think about it. Apparently, I used to fall over and walk into things and had problems with listening skills.

“It was only after the treatment that I became better at doing things like throwing and catching a ball and it became more of an interest to me.

“But even at secondary school, I still felt I was a bit behind everyone else. I started playing rugby about 11 or 12 and then carried that through school.”

When he started studying
business at Southampton University, Cameron decided to try American football. He fell in love with the sport and his size and strength helped him perform well.

Cameron was spotted and offered the contract to play in America.

He said: “There are only three or four UK-born NFL players at the moment and I think every single one had been to school in the States.

“It’s unheard of to come from a school in the UK. I believe only one other person has done it. I think I’m the first Scottish person to do it.”

He kept the news he’d landed a contract in America a secret from his family so he could tell them face to face at Christmas at home in Kent.

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He played them a recording of the Skype call when he was offered the deal and showed them the contract.

“My parents’ reaction was quite emotional,” he said.

Scott, 53, who is managing director of Drakes plumbing and heating business, said: “Cameron looked like such a fragile little dot in that incubator with all the wires and tubes hooked up to him.

“When you think he’s the size
and character he is now, it’s like chalk and cheese.

“In the early days when the health visitor would come round and throw a soft ball for him to try to catch, his hands would miss each other.

“Now you watch him doing one-handed catches on an American football field.

“Being so premature, he was so small and vulnerable and now he’s got great timing and coordination. We’re massively proud.”

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Speaking of his success, Cameron added: “I think it’s a mixture of being a big guy and having quick movements and reactions, which, considering my background, is unbelievable.

“I remember talking to my mum about how they nearly lost me.

"It makes it all the more emotional that I’ve managed to get through things.”

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