To
Whom This May Concern:
If you take any from this letter,
let it be: give to Champ Camp. By the end of this novel, you will want to give
everything you can: time, energy, prayer, financial support, or just to shake
the hand of anyone who has given to champ camp. You will want to have the
autograph of some of the people in this letter and have your picture taken with
them. They are famous in their actions, not because they have been on the news,
but because there are ripples everywhere from what they have given to this
world.
I don’t know exactly what “god’s
work” is, but I’m pretty sure Champ Camp would fall under that category for
those who do know.
I was not a camper at Champ Camp,
which if I went back to that 11 year old me I would have dragged her to camp no
matter what she said about asthma. I wish I was a “lifer,” but I’m happy that I
went to camp at some point. I was a camp counselor for a total of 10 days. The
most important 10 days of my life. Someday I will be singing the banana song
again, but for now I can only share why you should care.
Here is my story of how champ camp
saved my life in more than one way, and why you’re going to pull out your
wallet right now. Sign the check. In the line that says who to, put “American
Lung Association of Colorado, Champ Camp.” In the line that asks what you’re
giving leave it blank for now. Now you don’t actually have to do this, but
trust me you will at some point. If you’re hearing or reading this you’re a
part of the champ camp community in some way and you’re already probably
giving. Even if you can’t give financially, I can tell you that if you give
time, you’ll get your own gift back. (You will want to give something to Cindy
and if you don’t want to its only because I told you, you will want to and
you’re just as stubborn as I am.)
From the very beginning I learned
these people—Champ Camp: counselors, campers, leadership, respiratory
therapists, nurses, and doctors—they’re special. I can only hope to grow into ½
the person that each one of them is already.
The first year I went to camp was
when I was 17. It was the first year in 5 years without a hospital stay, an
exacerbation of my special powers, and the first time I would be at a camp in 5
years.
The last time I had been at camp I
had welled up and my throat had closed because what we had thought was an
environmental allergy. *Spoiler alert* I went the whole entire week without
problems. I actually got to run, I mean go for a run, kind of run, awesome,
with some of those special people, one of which was “stewie,” my favorite RT.
(Okay Guy you get 1.25 place).
Taking a step back to orientation. .
.
The day I drove down for orientation
I was so nervous, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. I just knew the
word camp was involved, and I was
going to get volunteer hours, not that I actually needed more, but at some
point it would end up on a resume. Little
did I know it would become my life passion. What Cindy and others may not
know, (Cindy probably does because Cindy is Cindy), I got a call on my way down
to Denver that morning. My Dad asked my mother and I to pull over and to call
when we were in a safe spot. My 24 year old debate coach, and mentor was killed
in a car accident. As one sanctuary seemingly was taken away I was given
another. My mother asked if I would like to turn around. I stated no I had to go to orientation. I could not
miss orientation. (Turns out you can miss orientation, there is a second one or
something like that but that’s an insider secret so this part will probably be
edited out).
I was right, naturally, I did need
to go. For 8 hours (more like 4 I can’t remember) I learned about the place I
would come to know as the most amazing place on this earth. I had lost one of
the greatest influences in my life, and was given a smile by these strangers at
the time. Not because I shared what had happened, but because they opened their
hearts blindly and shared funny stories and showed me a community that is so
profound.
Kyle was not the only person I had
lost that year. I went to 5 funerals, and missed 2. I should have had to go to
8, but every other day I get to thank god that I my sister is alive. On the odd
days I ask why am I not an only child, but even than I’m greatful. August 1, in
the previous year my sister was in a car accident and had a severe traumatic
brain injury, TBI. Until recently I lost my older sister whom was replaced by a
different younger sister in the same body. It wasn’t until the end of the week
that I had learned one of the most amazing people at camp also worked at Craig.
I also discovered another leader at camp had a sibling with a TBI and our
siblings had literally missed overlapping their stays at craig by days.
That first year at camp I learned
more about how to lead with actions rather than words, mainly because I lava
bubble blew up in my mouth during our training, but that’s a side story. I also
learned more about leadership and being a role model from the 14 year old girls
I was so blessed to hang out with and spend time with. Sunshine, and my other
co-counselor, Karisma, showed me more about friendship and life than those who
have never been to champ camp simply cannot begin to understand.
I wish the 2nd year was
no different, but I got very very sick. Thankfully whatever angels I have
watching over me made sure I had the right people there, though the timing
certainly did suck. I don’t remember much, but I am reminded of a few things on
a regular basis by my camp mom, PJ. I am lucky to not be a cat and to be a
Julia, with a few extra lives. I am also reminded that I push limits a little
much. Supposedly I called Cindy the next day an hour or so after being
extubated to let her know I would be back at camp the next day. I was
supposedly quite upset that I had already missed two days of camp. I may have
still had some sedately drugs in my system, but if that call were to be true I
would tell you that it was all from the heart. Apparently I may have also
argued about going to the hospital in the first place, but like I said the
details are fuzzy and I’m pretty sure there is some embellishment here. I am
not that stubborn. Thankfully Cindy is a mom too, and all the people I was
surrounded by care more than I probably even know and saved me physically that
day. I didn’t go back the next day, but I am still alive to share this story
with you and make sure you give that check to Cindy.
I wish I could tell you that I’ve
been cured, the doctors figured me out. Apparently I’m special in that way, I’m
a little bit of a puzzle piece or puzzle. Unfortunately I’ve used a few of my
other extra lives, but someday I’ll get to pay it all back as an EMS provider,
nurse, whatever I can do for this world. I laugh when doctors talk to me about
counseling and support, not because I don’t believe in either. I laugh because
I have had support in ways beyond their imagination. They have no idea where I
have been in my life. I have support through a counselor but my greatest support
has come from those 10 days. Not just because I am still great friends with
everyone I have met (unless they’re not on facebook of course, because only
good friends are on facebook), but because of the memories I have from those 10
days. When I struggle in anyway, breathing, or mentally, all I have to do is
play some music and look at pictures from my time at champ camp. I go to champ
camp and hear the songs, and see the blue skies and smiling faces. Those 10
days will always be with me, wherever I am. I love hiking, being outside, and
doing everything (especially things that I’m told no about), but if I had to I
could live in a square room with only pictures of champ camp. Though I am sure
I would quickly be more insane than I already am.
I really should have gotten to
volunteer at champ camp, I should have had to pay to go to camp. The idea that
I got to spend 10 days in heaven for free is just crazy. So until I find a
winning lottery ticket, I cannot pay for the entire cost of camp. I truly wish
I could, but the best part is because I can’t people like you have the
opportunity to be a part of champ camp and know that you’re helping lives
everywhere.
If I never got to go to camp again,
I would be sad, but camp is the people not the place. Anyways I’m pretty sure
that one day I’m going to be healthy enough and both Cindy and PJ will let me
come up and play. Those special people have come to me in so many different
ways, through facebook, or even dropping everything and flying 700+ miles to
sit with me in a hospital.
I am only one of thousands and
millions of champ camp stories. Look around and you’ll see each and every one
of the camp counselors, nurses, respiratory therapists, doctors, or American
Lung Association volunteers, they have a story and they are there for a reason.
I’ll give you a hint it has to do with blue skies and smiling faces, not a
paycheck. Each kid that comes to camp has a story of their own and fighting
battles that no kid should ever have to fight. Champ Camp just brings us
together because we have asthma.
When I tell some individuals about
Champ Camp, as soon as they hear asthma they laugh. They make jokes as if I
haven’t heard them before. I laugh too, because they don’t know how cool it is
to have asthma because you get to go to champ camp. We do more rock climbing,
ziplining, swimming, hiking, running, and breathing in of life than any other
camp does. The best part, the real secret, everyone is learning or being
reminded that having control over their asthma empowers them, even the
counselors. Yeah we have asthma education once a day, but this learning is
secretly in every smile that’s created at camp. I remember the day another camp
counselor turned to me and said, I want to have asthma and an inhaler. We
include everyone, but if you know that asthma is what ties us all together
you’ll be jealous too because we make asthma look good. There is nothing that
stops any of us.
I
can’t share everything. You will have to go out there and find it out for
yourself.
Do me a favor, give more than what
you think you can give to Champ Camp however that may come, because Champ Camp
is literally fighting every battle and cause I stand for, and I stand for a lot
of causes (just look at my facebook).
10 days changed me and I’m not even
the one camp is really for. Camp isn’t free, we wish it was, but there are
still costs even though the volunteers come paid only by the blue skies and smiling
faces. If I could give one place a winning lottery ticket, Camp would be that
place most definitely.
All it takes is a deep breath and I
can hear the sounds of camp, and see the blue skies and smiling faces. If you
think I’m something special, look at camp because I am a star compared to the
galaxy of stars champ camp is. Those people, they’re my favorite people,
they’re special.
Each is fight every single important
fight there is: bullying, stigma, disease, (sadly this includes cancer),
Alzheimer’s, TBIs, just to name a few that I know of. Giving to camp is more
than skipping a rock. The ripples are overwhelming and do not miss any corner
of this world.
Sincerely,
A
grateful champ camper.
