Gabrielle's Heart Camp is one of the greatest things I've gotten involved in. Not your average summer camp, it is designed for children with Congenital Heart Defects in New England.
Having being diagnosed in 1998 with a Congenital Heart Defect, I did not know anyone with a heart condition. There weren't any camps or really and kid friendly support systems for us "half hearters" that existed back then.
My cardiologist got me involved with this camp 7 years ago and I have attended the camp ever since. Being and involved and seeing the kids is always the highlight of my summer.
Recently I was able to stop in at this camp before leaving for school, and boy am I glad that I did. I really did not think I had such a LARGE impact on these children's' lives until I surprised them and showed up on their second day at camp. Every camper wanted me to stay, and to be honest, I was there from 8 am until 11pm that night and I would not have wanted it any other way.
Even just spending my day with them, opposed from the usual spend whole week when my life was not as busy, was just great. I missed the bond I had with the campers and I missed everything they had to say about learning about their heart conditions. I was told by many parents that their children only go if they know I will be a counselor there. Gladly I was able to make it for the day this year or we would have had some unhappy campers.., literally.
Each and everyone of those beautifully designed hearts has their own struggle, some of these children have never experienced surgery in their lifetime, and some have had so many surgeries that they lose count. To see them all playing a game of kickball and all taking the same amount rest times, just makes me smile. In a typical gym class in school, living with heart disease means you are sometimes pushed to limits and unable to take breaks unless you wanted to stick out. There is no 'sticking out' here because everyone has the same scar down their chest and everyone has similar physical limitations.
Some of these children are still using feeding tubes/ports and some of them have other major health hurdles holding them back., and then their are some you would never know have a heart condition at all. At this camp, the children learn about their diagnosis and they learn how the other campers live their lives and deal with their differences. My favorite part is seeing the children talk about their hearts to new friends and when they find out they have the same heart condition, the way their face lights up is so cute.
Another great aspect is medicine distribution no sneaking the heart meds under the table at breakfast because we are all taking our heart meds and some take them at certain hours through the day. It's just a great time for every child with a heart condition to realize they are not alone.
I am so happy to have been able to be a part of something so great for the past 7 years, and I am super proud of my cardiologist for making his dream of this camp come true. this camp has changed my life and many others.
