This past June, I volunteered for one week at a camp for kids with varying degrees of illnesses and disorders. The particular week that I was there was for kids who have had liver transplants.

Going into this experience I did not know what to expect. Yet, one can learn from all experiences in life, so I went to camp with an open heart and mind.

Kids were dropped off at camp: some by their parents and some on buses and shuttles. You could see how even though they all had this common thread of having had a liver transplant, each child was unique. Some would cry as they were dropped off by their parents; some were seasoned pros with this being their second or third trip to camp.

After they all had arrived and were settled into their new home for the next week, it was time for dinner in the dining hall. Meals were really good at camp (especially compared to typical camp fair). If a child or staffer had a special dietary restriction, kitchen staff would make sure they were taken care of. Vegan dishes were also available at every meal.

At each mealtime, doctors and nurses looking over the kids for the week would visit the dining hall. It amazed me to learn that like me, all of the medical staff was donating their time for these children. Many of the doctors and nurses were the same people that took care of the children on a regular basis back home. It was comforting for everyone to know that there was a familiar face around should an emergency occur.

The doctors were mostly there in case the children got sick or if a complication arose during their care. The nurses would come to the dining hall three times a day to dispense medications and would do the same at bedtime. At times, the children would not want to take their medicines and would cry or throw tantrums a bit.

One time in particular involved a child who had a colostomy bag. Her output of liquids for the day had to match her input. One night she needed to drink 15oz of Pedialite…and to top it all off, she hated to drink liquids! She cried and cried, protesting so she would not have to drink the fluids. Everyone was trying to empathize with her, telling her that she “had to drink the fluids.”

Suddenly a light bulb went off in my head…I had Vitamin Water! I knew that one of the best ways to help a child in a tough situation is to relate to them. So, I grabbed my vitamin water, walked up to the little girl, and showed her my water bottle.

“Look!” I said, “I have to drink my vitamins also!”
“Really?!?” she replied.
“Yes, I have to take medicine just like you.” She cried a little bit more, but ended up drinking her fluids like a champ.

This experience helped me to learn that many people can forget that children who have an illness or a disorder should be approached as child first. It is very easy to start to think of them like little adults with all they have gone through. It can also be difficult not to give them special treatment by allowing them to get away with behaviors that would be unacceptable from a healthy child. We need to remember as their caregivers that they are CHILDREN FIRST before anything. And we need to treat them as such. Treat the child as a child first, and then treat their special need.

The five days I spent at camp proved to be an amazing time for the children and me. There were so many different activities for them to participate in: horseback riding, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, wood shop, and many more. They would not be able to experience many of these activities, had it not been for the camp and all of the amazing volunteers.

Looking back, the opportunity I had this summer has taught me that when new opportunities present themselves, you must take hold, go out on a limb, and move out of your comfort zone.

Sometimes even the smallest challenge can make the biggest impact on the path you choose to take.