Re: Camp experiences...for a younger child (7 yo)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm glad to hear things are going well!! Amber went to JRA camp for the first

time at 15 (it took that long to get her diagnosed!)and she loved it!! There

were so many kids there that had been coming since they were little and I only

wished she could have been a part of it. There was a med shed right there like a

little mini pharmacy and doctors office. There was a full medical staff

including doctors that volunteer their time. I honestly believed there was no

place safer that she could possibly have been. They did all the typical camp

pranks and had modified activities that everyone could enjoy. She came home with

lots of new friends that she can talk to about everything in a way we can't.

Please consider it.

, Amber (16) Psoriatic

>

> On Monday saw the rheumy...thankfully he's still doing well on Enbrel,

MTX, and folic acid...yay!

>

> While there the rheumy mentioned Camp Boggy Creek (we are in South Florida)

For him this summer. It's a year round camp that allows kids with different

chronic and life threatening illness to spend a week at camp with kids who share

their same disease. So in mid June they are having arthritis/rheumatic

kids...for a week...for free...for ages 7-16. will be almost 8 by that

time.

>

> The only drawback is we aren't allowed to go. Our rheumy is typically there

(but may not be there this year) so he wouldn't know anyone. He is a shy

child..but he REALLY wants to go...he'd be 5 hours from home but only two hours

from his grandparents.

>

> Has anyone had experience with a camp like this? Especially with a younger

child? I've heard nothing but great things about this camp...but I am a mom and

I worry. But i also think it would be great for him to spend time with other

kids with JIA...a great boost for his self esteem.

>

> Thanks.

> & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

>

[Guest guest]

Our camp is like that, and we aren't allowed to go either. I wouldn't hesitate.

Our camp is so wonderful. They are careful with the meds. They are careful

with sunscreen, liquids, etc. They have a 1:1 counselor ratio at our camp. They

have wonderful food. There are docs and nurses on staff full time. They have

fun activities with plenty of rest times. It is just amazing. They develop

lifetime friendships, and look forward to each summer. This would be a week

where he could just be a kid and everyone else is like him. Everyone takes

meds, everyone hurts and needs to rest, etc.

Now for you, it will be hard. It is hard to let go. It is hard to relax. But,

it allows to know he will be okay without you. He learns to trust the camp

staff, and realizes that he is going to be fine. I think this is good practice

for spend the nights, and eventually college.

Audra

14 poly 07

Peyton 13 poly 08

>

> On Monday saw the rheumy...thankfully he's still doing well on Enbrel,

MTX, and folic acid...yay!

>

> While there the rheumy mentioned Camp Boggy Creek (we are in South Florida)

For him this summer. It's a year round camp that allows kids with different

chronic and life threatening illness to spend a week at camp with kids who share

their same disease. So in mid June they are having arthritis/rheumatic

kids...for a week...for free...for ages 7-16. will be almost 8 by that

time.

>

> The only drawback is we aren't allowed to go. Our rheumy is typically there

(but may not be there this year) so he wouldn't know anyone. He is a shy

child..but he REALLY wants to go...he'd be 5 hours from home but only two hours

from his grandparents.

>

> Has anyone had experience with a camp like this? Especially with a younger

child? I've heard nothing but great things about this camp...but I am a mom and

I worry. But i also think it would be great for him to spend time with other

kids with JIA...a great boost for his self esteem.

>

> Thanks.

> & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

>

[Guest guest]

Just curious about the camps. Are there kids there whose arthritis is not that

noticable as well as kids who are more impacted? Just curious because, I think

it would be a good experience for my 11 year old, but I don't want her to get

scared that her arthritis will get really severe. She is an anxious child and I

would not want the experience to cause her more stress. THe way she is now, her

arthritis is hardly noticable, (98% of the time). I think this kind of camp

would help her, as she does need to rest more than non-JRA kids. I think it also

would be good to meet children who experience some of the same challenges that

she does. Anyone's opinion here?

Jo

>

> > >

>

> > > On Monday saw the rheumy...thankfully he's still doing well on

Enbrel, MTX, and folic acid...yay!

>

> > >

>

> > > While there the rheumy mentioned Camp Boggy Creek (we are in South

Florida) For him this summer. It's a year round camp that allows kids with

different chronic and life threatening illness to spend a week at camp with kids

who share their same disease. So in mid June they are having arthritis/rheumatic

kids...for a week...for free...for ages 7-16. will be almost 8 by that

time.

>

> > >

>

> > > The only drawback is we aren't allowed to go. Our rheumy is typically

there (but may not be there this year) so he wouldn't know anyone. He is a shy

child..but he REALLY wants to go...he'd be 5 hours from home but only two hours

from his grandparents.

>

> > >

>

> > > Has anyone had experience with a camp like this? Especially with a younger

child? I've heard nothing but great things about this camp...but I am a mom and

I worry. But i also think it would be great for him to spend time with other

kids with JIA...a great boost for his self esteem.

>

> > >

>

> > > Thanks.

>

> > > & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

>

> > >

>

> >

>

> >

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I finally got in touch with our local chapter here because of all the positive

feedback about camp. They had a really nice family day with experts for

parents. Art, tai chi and music for the kids. I decided to send her to our

local camp after that and thanks to all the feedback here.

Jo

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > > On Monday saw the rheumy...thankfully he's still doing well on

Enbrel,

> >MTX, and folic acid...yay!

> >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > > While there the rheumy mentioned Camp Boggy Creek (we are in South

Florida)

> >For him this summer. It's a year round camp that allows kids with different

> >chronic and life threatening illness to spend a week at camp with kids who

share

> >their same disease. So in mid June they are having arthritis/rheumatic

> >kids...for a week...for free...for ages 7-16. will be almost 8 by that

> >time.

> >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > > The only drawback is we aren't allowed to go. Our rheumy is typically

there

> >(but may not be there this year) so he wouldn't know anyone. He is a shy

> >child..but he REALLY wants to go...he'd be 5 hours from home but only two

hours

> >from his grandparents.

> >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > > Has anyone had experience with a camp like this? Especially with a

younger

> >child? I've heard nothing but great things about this camp...but I am a mom

and

> >I worry. But i also think it would be great for him to spend time with other

> >kids with JIA...a great boost for his self esteem.

> >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > > Thanks.

> >

> > > > & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

> >

> > > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I thought I would update...I sent in his application last week and just faxed

his medical form on Thursday...so now we wait to see if he is accepted. I also

found out my daughter's BFF will be there (as long as she is accepted) as

well...what are the odds that her friend would also have JIA? Our doctor is

also going to be there...so that's a relief.

Our arthritis walk is April 30th and we have a kick off meeting today for the

kids and parents...so hopefully we will meet some other kids who are going to

this camp too.

Thanks for everyones's input...it really helped. Now we just wait until early

May to see if he got in.

& , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

Sent from my iPhone

[Guest guest]

It will really help you to meet other parents as well. Just to know that you

are not alone and to be able to share is wonderful. I hope he gets to go, he'll

have a wonderful time.

Audra

>

> I thought I would update...I sent in his application last week and just faxed

his medical form on Thursday...so now we wait to see if he is accepted. I also

found out my daughter's BFF will be there (as long as she is accepted) as

well...what are the odds that her friend would also have JIA? Our doctor is

also going to be there...so that's a relief.

>

> Our arthritis walk is April 30th and we have a kick off meeting today for the

kids and parents...so hopefully we will meet some other kids who are going to

this camp too.

>

> Thanks for everyones's input...it really helped. Now we just wait until early

May to see if he got in.

>

> & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

>

>

>

> Sent from my iPhone

>