For me, camp is a “Home away from home”. At the beginning of 2015, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. I was only a freshman in high school.  I went through 4 rounds of chemotherapy. When I was in the hospital I didn’t know anyone my age or someone to talk to about what was happening in my life. At the end of my freshman year, a former cancer survivor (Cameron Christiansen) came up to me and told me about camp. I didn't know Cameron very well I just knew that he was in band with me. He told me about the different activities and all the amazing people there and how it was for cancer survivors. Parents thought this would be a good opportunity to know other survivors and experience something new. I did not want to go I didn't know Cameron very well, going to camp that was a 4-hour drive from Muscatine to Boone and being without my parents was something that I have never done. Cameron said even though sign-ups were already done that he would try to talk to someone from camp and see if I could. A week later my mom got a call from Channon one of the camp directors and told us that I would be able to go to camp. My parents were excited about this but I wasn’t. The week for camp came along and I was nervous to go. The day finally came to go, we got to Boone and the camp look amazing. That year’s camp theme was Disney and I remember seeing the sign that said “ welcome to camp”. I saw that there was rock climbing, zip lining and so much more. As the day was ending I counted in my head how many more days there was till I got home. As the week went along I become closer with everyone in my cabin, especially Cameron. The first timing going to camp was an experience that I will never forget. I meet so many new people and kids that have gone through similar journeys compared to mine. As the week ended I was sad that I wouldn’t be able to see any of my camp friends until next year. As I was getting into my parent's car I was telling all the amazing adventures that I had at camp. All the silly and fun stuff and how camp is a place that no one stares but everyone care. Going to camp changed the way I looked at life. When I was first diagnosed I never really talked to anyone about me having cancer but going to camp showed me that there are many cancer survivors and no one fights alone. 
Second pic:my first year at camp with my cabin

When I returned back home I went through radiation and I was done. I returned back to school again and I was in Sophomore and I was able to join the marching band and I was still on time to graduate. In October of 2015, I had relapsed with lymphoma again. I went through 5 more rounds of chemo and then a cell transplant. I finished treatment in March of 2016. In 2016 I was able to go to camp again but this time I was really excited to go. I would be able to see all my friends from camp. My second year has been my favorite one so far. We didn't have that many kids in our cabin that year we had about 7 of us in our cabin. I meet some new people and I had some amazing counselors that year as well! I meet a new camper (Jacy McAlexander) that year. Jacy was in my cabin and he was going through treatment as well. Jacy and I became very close friends at camp. He was going through radiation treatment during camp so one of our counselors had to take him to the Des Moines hospital every day for treatment. One of the counselors came up with the idea of going to the store and buying snacks for us. Every day for that week someone would go out to Walmart or the gas station and brought us food. We would play a lot of Uno, we once had a game of 16 people going one all one cabin. As that week ended I was sad that it went by so quick but happy that I was able to go and have fun. 

Pic: second year of camp 

I went back home and I had repeat scans and everything was clear. My Doctor wanted me to try a preventive chemo on me. This would lower the chances of me having cancer again, but I would be on treatment for a year. We decided that this would help me in the end so we started it at the beginning of my Junior year. I went through treatment every 3 weeks and I was able to keep my hair! I did this my whole Junior year. As my Junior year was ending I started to have problems with neuropathy. It was towards the end of May when they took me off the preventive chemo because of the side effects I was having. I started to have problems with my fingers were starting to cramp up, I couldn’t feel my feet and It hurt to walk. As it was the of the school year (2017) I started to think about camp. I was thinking about if I would be able to go since I was having problems with walking. My mom talked to the staff and I was able to go. I was able to ride the golf carts when I need to and rest if I need to. That year was a struggle I tried to do as much as I could be I couldn’t it wasn’t the same. I was still able to see all my friends, favorite counselors and my best friend from camp Jacy. I still enjoyed being with them. 

Pic: my closest friends at camp

As I went back home I started to do physical therapy and that helps me a lot with the nerve damage. Earlier in 2017, I was asked if I wanted to be a LIT (leader in training). Even though I was struggling with neuropathy I still signed up. I would be able to be a LIT during their sibling camp. They provide a sibling camp for the sibling of survivors, both of my younger brothers have gone for 2 years and they loved it.  It was my most memorable week of this summer. I was proud of myself that I pushed my limits and I was able to enjoy every moment of it. As a LIT I realized it takes more than a counselor to make a campers week, it takes a village to make it an amazing week for everyone. As a LIT I was able to see behind the magic of what makes camp a great week for everyone. One of my favorite things as a LIT is that you get to shadow a cabin. I was a bit nervous about shadowing a cabin I was with different cabins at the beginning and my favorite one was the boys of Deer Valley 2. They are the coolest and energetic kids I've ever met! In the first photo, they threw a pie full of whip cream on my face because their group won the LIT activity. I really hope they all come back next year and I'll be able to shadow them again. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who works hard to make camp a great week. To all the LITs and friends that were there this week, thanks for making it a great week and an experience I will never forget you guys. This year (2018)I will be able to go to camp again but this will be my last year going as a camper. But I will be able to go back as a counselor and that will be really fun and something new to do.

Pic: everyone that did LIT 2017