Comments on: Day 15 - Sixtieth Camp Blog Entry

By: Ceseloalosy

Ceseloalosy — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:18:35 +0000

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By: Sam's mom

Sam's mom — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:20:27 +0000

A special diabetes camp is definetely still needed!!!! My 15 year old daughter isn’t barred from doing anything becuase of her diabetes - she plays on the high school tennis team and is stage manager of our high school theatre company. However, she still feels no one understands what she has to deal with and sometimes ignores her diabetes care so she can go along with the group without always standing out - until she gets to camp - then she finally feels like she has no problems at all becuase everyone else has diabetes and eveyone is counting carbs and taking thier blood sugar all the time and she never has to explain what she is doing or what it feels like to be low. With teens they tend to get burned out, rebellious and not manage thier diabetes well, but if everyone is doing it together they get back into a good mangement rhythym that remains when they return from camp. One of her teenage friends from camp had not been controlling her diabetes well at all before going to camp this summer - but once she got together with all her other friends with diabetes, they got on her about the importance of good control and she has been doing great ever since she left camp. Hearing it form anoher personwtih daibetes rather than a doctor or parent has a much stronger affect. My daughter would be lost and feel alone without camp - she looks forward to it all year long.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:35:40 +0000

I really enjoyed the camp blog you posted, I would love to be able to read a blog from endocrinologists and their experiences with patients. Might lead to an understanding of why Doctors put patients on NPH and resist pumps for some of their patients.

By: mom to kathy

mom to kathy — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:59:12 +0000

As a parent who was as parent’s day and heard your very informative education talk, I also agree wholeheartedly diabetes camp is still very relevant. This is my 11 year old’s 2nd camp, the 1st one in TX. The friendships she has made are priceless, and her enthusiam in looking forward to camp is contagious. She has also commented on how although we as parents move heaven and earth to take care of our kids, we do not know what low or high blood sugars feel like to our children. The knowledge that there are other kids just like her is invaluable, and I personally believe vital to her continued success. I know as a parent I will not always be here to watch over everything, and that I am training her to manage this moronic disease on her own. Camp is also vital in this respect, as one of your goals is to improve the self-management skills of the kids. Your work and dedication to this camp is much appreciated, and it was an honor to meet you.

By: Steve Ponder

Steve Ponder — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:52:09 +0000

Wow! Well said. Thank you for your eloquence!

By: Cheryl Carswell

Cheryl Carswell — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:48:30 +0000

Is diabetes camp relevant? Yes! Yes! Yes! Although it is true that many of the barriers that existed in the past are nonexistant today, young diabetics have new barriers. One of the new barriers is the ability to keep up with the current technology behind the daily care of diabetes. All the technology gives the diabetic and their family the tool to take better care of themselves in preventing long term complications. But, some of these tools are so advanced that we are not able to keep up with the education needed to take advantage of the tools. Plus, the one thing that camp can do that can never be duplicated is that the camp is filled with diabetic kids. These kids go to school and are lucky to have one other kid in the school that might also have diabetes. Some kids go to schools where they are the only diabetic on the campus. Even as parents, we may think we know, but no one can really understand what a diabetic goes through than another diabetic. A comment I heard from my child the first time she attended camp several years ago was, “Mom, there were kids just like me…everywhere!” Camp provides an avenue to talk about what they do and go through day to day. Your “campfire chats” with the teenagers at their camp out is a great way for them to talk about issues that diabetic teens deal with in a non-judgmental way.
This was my daughter’s last year of camp because she is now 15. A price could never be placed on the value of the friendships she has made, the confidence she has developed or the knowledge she has gained at camp. Because of her experiences which are probably similar to most diabetic campers, camp will always be relevant.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:46:16 +0000

Thank you so much for the kind words. My staff is the reason for the results we see every year. They pour their hearts out for the campers. I’m so happy your son enjoyed his time there and hope he will return someday. I also hope he enjoys the DVD memory disk.

By: Jeff Campbell

Jeff Campbell — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:29:07 +0000

I just wanted to say that this was my son’s first camp experience and first time away from home. Not sure who it was harder on-him or us, but I noticed that he did not cry as I left him there with tear-filled eyes. He has not stoped talking about his experiences or all the great people he met there. But more important is that he has continued with the lessons learned and has been pretty much in range since his return home. I am forever greatfull to the staff and friends at the Texas Lions Camp. God bless you for all the hard work you do and for making a positive difference in so many lives.
Jeff and Marie

P.S.
My son hopes to return next year.