Camp Quality: " Letting Kids With Cancer Be Kids Again"

Cancer sucks. 10 years ago, when my brother Andy was in preschool, he was diagnosed with Wilms' tumor. It is a cancer that primarily affects a child's kidneys. My brother had stage 5 of this cancer, which is the most intense. On his 5th birthday in March, it was uncertain if he would live until his 6th. He spent that 5th birthday in a hospital bed in Kansas City.

This photo, taken by my father (David Mannell), is from Andy's hospitalization. My mother (above) would sing "You Are My Sunshine" to Andy to help him get through it all.

Through the doctors' abilities, great technology, a miracle from God, luck, or probably a combination of all these, my brother's cancer was defeated. He is now a healthy 15 year old boy. He looks normal, even handsome for a teen. However, cancer's effects do not necessarily stop once the patient reaches remission. Besides the physical problems that arose, Andy also had a hard time socially and emotionally for many years. One thing that helped him establish friendships and helped him reclaim his childhood was Camp Quality.

Camp Quality is a week long camp for children with cancer, survivors, and siblings (like my brother Robby and myself). There are multiple camps in several countries. The one we attend is in Kansas City. Andy has attended annually since 2005. I accompanied him as a camper until 2009, and last year I returned to be a companion (which is a camp counselor paired with an individual child).

I can say that this camp truly fulfills their mission of letting kids with cancer be kids again. The camp coordinators fill the whole week with a ton of activities for the kids. For example, one year when I was a camper, we went to an indoor water park. Last year, we took the kids to the Kansas City Chief's summer training camp. There often are organizations or groups in the local area that come to the camps too, such as the National Guard one year. And then there are events held every year at my camp, such as the dance, talent show, and a local Harley Davidson's chapter visit.

I highly recommend that you check with your local Camp Quality chapter and find out what the dates for camp this year are. If you are able to take that week off, it is determinately worth it, and you will have fun while you are there!

The link for the Camp Quality Greater Kansas City is:
http://www.campqualityusa.org/gkc/

To find a camp near you, please visit: http://www.campqualityusa.org/Camps