Sunday, March 2, 2014

Thank You Champ Camp

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.

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