Monthly Archives: August 2023

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Another Camp Kesem

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I’m not even going to apologize for writing this blog. I was so excited to be going back to Maine for Kesem. I had attended in 2019 and it was their first camp. They did an amazing job then, and they did another amazing job.

There were a couple returning campers, one of whom really touched my heart four years ago. It was so good to see her and how much she’s grown. She’s a full fledged teenager now on the verge of driving. As for her brother he was a shrimp in 2019 and now stands almost six foot tall. I showed him the picture I had on my phone from messy games that year and he was like hey that’s me.

I’ve had a couple people ask if camp is really something the kids always remember. Yes it is and now that it’s in its twenty-third year some of the counselors were kids that attended camp which leads me to a very heartwarming story.

Three siblings parents divorced when they were younger. Their mom was awarded full custody. She ended up getting cancer and passing when they were teenagers. They originally went to live with their father but ended up split up in foster care. Imagine their surprise the following summer when they ran into each other at the same camp Kesem.

At Washington university camp one of the counselors shared her story. Her mom was diagnosed with cancer and went into remission. It came back with a vengeance and her mom passed when she was 15-16. All of her camp friends came to the funeral to support her. This is what I consider Kesem magic.

This week the kids painted rocks and almost everyone forgot theirs. In our neighborhood a neighbor has a rock dragon.

One of the counselors name was pants. I asked her if there was a meaning behind her name. She said nope just came up with pants and now everyone calls her that, including her bosses. She was a lot of fun and very good with the little kids. Here is her rock.

So I asked her if she wanted it. She said she did until I told her about the rock dragon and then told me to add it to the tail. So yesterday Charlie and I walked down the hill in 100 degree heat to add the kesem rocks to it. Now a little part of Maine is in Arnold.

One of my favorite parts about Kesem, is the paper plate awards. I find it interesting how I am seen in the eyes of others. I must admit they are usually spot on. Here are two of my favorites, one from Wash U and the other from Maine.

I was talking with the program coordinator about next year and I said I really need to win the lottery. She replied with “you should let us pay you.” I said “oh the money is not the issue, it’s the time off of work.” However I have felt called to do camp since I started attending Big Stuf with my church, if I’m meant to be there God will find a way. I know the reason I was able to attend Maine this year. I helped someone in a way that only Nurse Red could. And I made another young person friend.

Mole Moral~ As the sign says in the camp dining hall

We are born

Not for ourselves

But to help others

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Camp Kesem through Nurse Red’s eyes

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It was the summer of 2019 and I had left Mercy and took the summer off to figure out what I would do next with my career. I was looking on Indeed for jobs when I came across a posting that Washington University was looking for a volunteer camp nurse for Camp Kesem. The only thing I really knew was that it was for kids whose parents have or had or have passed away from cancer. So I applied was interviewed by two college kids (thought they were grown adults over the phone) and offered the position.

I had an amazing week and two weeks later I jumped on a plane and flew to Maine to help University of Maine out. I was blown away by the college kids who put on these camps. They fundraiser all year long, have meetings they attend and then give a week out of their summer to go to camp. As I left Maine I made up my mind if my next job wouldn’t give me off, I would quit and find a new one. This problem was avoided as covid hit and camp was virtual for two years which meant no nurse needed.

Camp Kesem was started in 2000 at Stanford University by college student Iris “Abra Cadabra” Rave Wedeking and a group of student leaders. They wanted to create a camp at little to no cost to families. After assessing the needs of the community they found that kids whose parents have or had cancer had a unique set of needs and were underserved. The first camp was held in 2001, free of charge to 37 campers. Camp Kesem national was founded in 2002. It has a grown to more than 130 college and university chapters in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

Kesem in Hebrew is magic. Camp Kesem is magic. For one week the kids can be kids and not focused on their parents cancer. Everyone chooses a camp name (hence Nurse Red because Big Red might be awkward) and no one uses their real name. As a nurse who has spent the greater part of her career purposely not remembering patients name to avoid HIPAA violations, I can barely remember camp names much less real names. So giving out medicine can be tricky and the only time real names are used. These kids look forward to this camp every year. Cancer is not spoken about (if brought up in causal conversation that is ok) except for at empowerment. It is a special two hour time period that I will not share. It’s a big part of the magic and words cannot describe it.

Karl the caterpillar became the mascot. A caterpillar was chosen because the kids often arrive very closed off, shy, timid. By the end of the week a complete transformation has occurred. They have come out of their shell, are engaged in activities and just kids. I witnessed this first hand in Maine. It was my only camper on medicine and she was mad she couldn’t keep her medicine with her. She was even madder she couldn’t bring her phone to camp. She sat like a bump on a log that evening. As the week went on she was laughing, smiling, participating in activities and was so excited to tell her mom all about camp. This was one of many reasons I said I would quit my job if I couldn’t be off for camp.

So the Karl I’m holding belong to Oklahoma University but I was at University of Arkansas camp. In true college movie life it seems Oklahoma broke something of Arkansas so they stole Karl. However at the end of camp Karl headed back to Oklahoma. I’m so glad he’s back where he belongs. The camp advisor for Arkansas came from Arizona State University so I knew him from last years camp. He is ASU director next year and informed me I’m doing his camp. The director for Oklahoma University next year was also at this camp and informed me I’m doing her camp as well. This means I’m up to six camps next year. I either need to win the lottery or convince the butt hut they can survive half of the summer without me.

Mole Moral ~ Jesus came to serve others, not be served. I am most happy when I serve others and Camp Kesem is the perfect place to accomplish this for me!!