Over the past six years working with families and children with cancer, I've learned that above all else cancer cannot stop a child. Kids are amazing. They don't focus on the scary issues of mortality or longterm effects of chemotherapy. They focus on the business of being children--playing, seeing friends, being normal.
For the past six summers, I have been blessed to participate in Camp Discovery, a camp for kids with cancer ages 7-16. Camp Discovery is funded by the American Cancer Society of San Antonio and serves children being treated at Medical City Children's Hospital of Dallas, Dell Children's Hospital of Austin, Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital of San Antonio, and Methodist Children's Hospital of San Antonio. It is entirely free to the camper. Campers must have cancer or be cancer survivors to attend camp.
Just because these kids are cancer patients does not mean that they don't have a blast. When I tell people I go to cancer camp, I often hear "oh, how sad." No, not sad at all.
Camp Discovery is a normal camp; just with extraordinary kids. Archery, fishing, swimming, canoeing, high elements, music, horseback riding, arts & crafts--think of what a regular camp would have and we have it. A carnival Tuesday night and a dance on Wednesday night. It's just that at our camp, you're not shocked to see a young man twirl his prosthetic leg in the air during the dance (ok, I'll admit, the first time I saw him completely swivel his leg around, I was a bit taken aback). It's perfectly normal for the girl in the wheelchair to be surrounded by her other cabinmates to dance around her. Our kids have to check in to the "Band-Aid Box" more frequently or need to take their "Happy Nappy" during our daily rest period, but they're ready when it's time to go.
Each year, I find inspiration. Often, it is the camper I saw frail, bald, and pale the year before who comes bounding off the bus the next year. This year, my inspiration was a 12 year old blind boy. He and I made a duct tape wallet and a duct tape airplane together in arts & crafts! What I quickly learned about this camper was that the only limitations he had were those placed on him by others. He could (and would!) do just as much as the others. His disability did not hold him back.
As Heroes for Children has grown, we have served more and more of these kids. So many of them have been assisted through HFC. I pointed out to my coworker, who also attends camp, the teens who were recipients of laptops. Sweet seven year old Brooke exclaimed, "Miss Jenny, thank you for my birthday party!!" every time she saw me. I even saw Heroes for Children t-shirts being worn by the children! Being there and getting to know the kids made me proud to have been apart of their lives in just a small way through the works of Heroes for Children.
I love Camp Discovery. It's become a part of me, of who I am. The people have become my family. I have a t-shirt that says, "Until cancer is cured....There's camp." I'm so grateful for Camp Discovery and the week I spend with the volunteers and campers each summer.
