the Water of Grace: Cotton Candy & Giggles

A camping we will go, a camping we will go..... :)

Camping is so much fun... cabins, bonfires, s'mores, campfire songs, swimming, fishing, canoeing... the list could go on and on. But you know what can make it even better?? When you go camping with kiddos that have cancer, had cancer, and their siblings get to come along too! It's the greatest! So many laughs and smiles! To watch them grow, and become like "healthy" kids again. That is what I got to be a part of this last week, and each year is just as fun, if not more fun than the year before!

This is my fourth year being a nurse at camp called Camp Quality Heartland. It is a camp for kids with cancer and their siblings. It is unique, in that each camper has their own companion, or volunteer, that gets to be one on one with them throughout the entire week. The camp is completely free to the campers, and is run entirely by volunteers. It's pretty amazing, and humbling to see and work with so many others who donate an entire week of their time to be with these kids. I am always taken back as I watch these volunteers, ranging in age from college to grandmas and grandpas, interacting with the kids, and making them each feel so special. I just love it! I am also in awe by the COC staff, that I get to work with each month or more throughout the entire year. The amount of time and effort each of us puts in to prepare for camp cannot be counted, but it's all worth it when we get to see each of these kids have a super fun week! It's so rewarding, when these campers come back year after year to join in the fun. It's a special thing to watch them be so strong as they are fighting their cancer, and then come back in remission. There are those kids though, that fight so hard..... but then can't come to camp because their labs are too low, or something else causes them to stay home. It breaks my heart when that happens. As those are the kiddos that need to be at this camp the most! Those are the kids that need to feel normal again! It's not fair, none of it is. I don't want to say, the cancer then wins, because it doesn't. Cancer never wins. These incredible children beat cancer by how they live, why they live, and the manner in which they live. They beat it by the strength of never giving up, of the hope they show, of the battle they fight. All these kids amaze me more and more each time, to keep living, to keep smiling, and to never give up hope!

We had a great week at camp! The sun was hot, hot, hot!! Perfect for so much fun at the pool! We got to do so many other fun things too... fishing, canoeing, crafts, game night, bonfires, movies, archery, cotton candy, dance party! And this year we got to do something special and exciting at the end, and that was ending camp at the College World Series! We, Camp Quality Heartland, got to be a part of the Flying Flags for Charity Baseball Village at the Mattress Factory, and be honored as one of the charities. It was the perfect ending to a perfect week! And having all the kids and volunteers up there in our red shirts and baseball hats, singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" still gives me goosebumps thinking about it!

We are always looking for more volunteers, so I would love it if you followed us on Facebook and/or Instagram. campqualityhtl We have a website too, that gives more information. http://www.campqualityusa.org/htl And if you ever know a child that is fighting cancer, or already has... please, please send them our way! We'd love to have them join our fun and incredible group! Ages 4-18 are all welcomed!!

Enjoy the pictures! :)