Camp

Here is my once a year blog entry.  It's not because I don't think about it a lot.  It's just what I think about writing about would bore everyone.  My yearly blog seems to come around time for Camp Hope, well this year is no different.


As I was packing Jessica for Totus Tuus camp yesterday and today I was remembering Camp Hope.  I had to psych myself out to not get nervous and worried.  She is only going for on overnight, one full day and will be back to Wichita but 1:15pm on the day 3. Piece of cake. I was most nervous because she has to take a daily medicine for her autoimmune disease.  I didn't know the procedure. Would the camp consolers hold on to it and give it to her, would she have to remember it herself, and would she remember?  This is a crucial time for her to not for get to take this medicine.  It's not usually something to be worried about if she forgets a day every month or so but she is going for a growth stimulation test next week.  If her thyroid levels are not normal then the test will not come back with the correct results and then there is no chance of the insurance helping us with growth hormone shots. I left her feeling very confident that things were taken care of. I check her medicine it with the person in charge of all the meds.


So how does this all tie into Camp Hope?  Well she is going to be gone a total of 2 days. Remember I said I was nervous about her medicine? I thought "how in the world did my parents leave me at the age of 8 for 5 day's and 6 night's with cancer on chemotherapy'? "How does any parent leave there child fighting cancer in the hands of people they have never met before"? Well I can tell you I am so thankful my parents and all the other parents left us at an amazing camp with the most amazing people I have met in my life. If it wasn't for some mother's dream of having a place for kids with cancer to go for a week long summer camp I would not be where I am today.  I would not have met Mike and married him. Trust me our paths would not have crossed any other way. I really don't know where I would be.  I would not have met some of the most amazing people I have met through camp and even the church that we belong to. Because without Mike we would not be at the church we are at.


I also realized how lucky and blessed Camp Hope is to have all the donors to make this camp free of charge to all of the kids to attend a entire week.  I had to pay $150 for Jessica to go just 2 days to this her camp. On the list of things to bring was Sunscreen and Bug repellent.  That is when it really hit me how blessed Camp Hope is to have the donors they have.  I never had to worry about packing bug repellent or sunscreen that was provided by Camp Hope.  I paid $150 for Jessica to go to a church camp and still had to provide my own sunscreen and bug repellent. Oh and yeah they asked everyone to bring a small container of drink mix, 12 bottles of water, and snacks to share. I don't want to sound like a Debby downer but what it the world did my $150 pay for.  I know it's not cheap to run one of these camps, so I am sure it is being put to good use. Trust me the food alone is not cheap.  Mike and I provided a meal for Camp Hope last year and it was a lot for just one meal.  We are lucky enough to be able to do it again this year. This was our way of donating to the camp we love so much.


Our crew of cooks last year were all former campers and cancer survivors.  I over heard one of the older campers ask "Are they all really former camper"?  At that moment I realized what and inspiration we were to this kids.  To see us live and well.  Giving them Hope that cancer can be beaten. We will see you all again in a couple of weeks for another delicious  meal.


Camp Hope has been through it's challenges this past year.  The first one was the American Cancer Society was no longer going to fund Camp Hope. Everyone thought that was the end of Camp Hope. Then Kans for Kids took over. Yay.  Then the dining hall at Camp burned down. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.campsforkids.org%2Fcamps%2Fcamphope.html&h=aAQEVz2YD  Many memories where made in that dining hall and the balcony off the dining hall. The Camp committee worked hard and found somewhere to hold camp this year.  I hope to return as a volunteer again someday. 


To all the campers and volunteers who will he arriving at a new place in just 2 weeks. Make new memories and new adventures.  It will be the same amazing people and some new people to watch over and care for this kids battling the fight of their lives. So I have no doubt that is will be just as big of a blast as it always has been.


Camp Hope "We shall prevail"