Among the most frightening things a parent can possibly hear is “Your child has leukemia.”
Believe me, I know — because on Aug. 26, 2004, my wife, Maureen, and I heard those words from our 3-year-old son Conor’s doctor. Recovering from this gut-punch, we kicked into fighting mode: “He will beat this!” But soon, demands on sleep, work, family free time and other areas began to wear on everyone, especially Conor’s two older siblings. We knew that, left unchecked, the strain could tear apart our family.
Fortunately, this summer we discovered Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine, an organization that seeks to ease the pressure of life-threatening illnesses on sick children and their families.
Camp Sunshine was established in 1984 by Anna and Larry Gould, owners of the Point Sebago Resort. The camp was the first, and remains among the few, programs in the United States dedicated to addressing the impact a critical illness such as cancer, kidney disease, lupus, diabetes or organ transplants has on all members of an ill child’s family. It also offers bereavement groups for families who have lost a child to illness.
Until recently, the resort donated its facilities and personnel for the camp’s operation for about four weeks each year. From an early stage, demand far exceeded capacity, prompting a nine-year capital campaign culminating in the opening of Camp Sunshine’s new, dedicated 23-acre lakeside campus in June 2001.
During each one-week session, the camp provides free accommodations, meals, 24-hour on-site medical support, counseling and recreation for up to 40 families and more than 60 volunteers. Children from infants to teens participate in activities organized by age group, from arts and crafts to a challenging obstacle course for older children. Parents bond with each other while competing in friendly team-building games and activities in pursuit of the highly coveted “Love Cup” trophy. Recreation time is designed to foster family involvement, encouraging families to laugh and have fun. Talent shows, dances, entertainment and campouts make each evening memorable.
While this recreational component is important, its combination with the psychosocial program makes Camp Sunshine unique. Parents have the time and opportunity to participate in counseling sessions and discussion workshops with other families. These sessions were the first opportunity we had to share our experiences, emotions and issues regarding our son’s illness and its impact on our family. This family-centered care helped restore a sense of balance within our family and made us stronger in dealing with the continuing challenges of Conor’s illness.
The program is run predominantly by volunteers, whose dedication and spirit are the backbone of Camp Sunshine. Each session, about 65 volunteers donate their time, many returning year after year. Since 1984, well over 10,000 volunteers have contributed more than 320,000 hours, saving Camp Sunshine several million dollars in operating costs. The volunteers come from all walks of life and include teenagers, college students and even entire families. Perhaps the most compelling testament to Camp Sunshine’s impact on the families it helps is the fact that some of the volunteer families during our week there had previously attended as campers. They felt the need to help give other families the same experience they had enjoyed. We were fortunate to meet such wonderful people.
Also since 1984, almost 5,000 families from 44 states and 14 countries have found a much-needed respite at Camp Sunshine. From the initial four sessions per year, the camp has grown to a record 23 sessions this year. The new permanent facility can promote the camp’s goal of offering a year-round program consisting of approximately 45 sessions by 2009. Through the camp’s Family Sponsorship Program, an individual, civic group, corporation or foundation can donate $1,500, which enables a family to spend a week at Camp Sunshine free.
When asked what we did this summer, I can say that Conor, now 4, met an equally energetic and mischievous “soul mate,” and together they became known around camp simply as “The Boys.” Our talented but shy 5-year-old daughter, Deirdre, tapped previously dormant courage to sing a beautiful song on stage in front of the entire camp, while our 9-year-old son, Brendan, conquered his fear of heights by scaling the 30-foot rock-climbing wall not once, but twice. Maureen and I played a lot of volleyball and did something we had not done in a while — we talked a lot about things unrelated to Conor’s illness and treatment. Among the treasures we all left camp with? Rejuvenated smiles, and a Love Cup trophy.
