Every year since 1988 Children's Cancer Connection has been dedicated to providing week long residential camp for children diagnosed with cancer living or treated in the state of Iowa. We also provide an identical week of camp for siblings of children diagnosed. At Children's Cancer Connection we believe in serving the entire family, for the entire journey! No one is ever charged any amount to come to camp and we work year round to make sure we can provide a magical experience for our campers!

What Camp has Meant to ME!

First a little about my story, and how I became apart of the Children's Cancer Connection Family...

My little brother, Austin, was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia when he was three years old. He battled cancer for five years. During those five years he received multiple rounds of Chemo, radiation, shots, spinal taps, blood transfusions, and many more. We lived at the hospital for months at a time. I spent Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, The Fourth of July, and Austin's birthday there. The hospital became a second home to us. The cancer patient takes the hardest hit by far, but the entire family will suffer.  

My life as a cancer patients sibling was pretty inconsistent. I lived with grandparents, neighbors, and friends I met at school; when I wasn't at the hospital. I saw my brother and parents every couple of days, but sometimes I'd have to go weeks without seeing them. It was a confusing time without parents. I would never blame them, they gave me everything they could. They tried their hardest, but when you have a child who is close to what seems like death, it can be a terrifying time leaving him, even just for a night.

One day my parents told me that Austin had relapsed for the second time, and had a slim chance of survival. I remember seeing my older brother Garrett cry for the first time when they sat us down. Tears filled everyone's eyes that night. They said his only hope was a bone marrow transplant. If the transplant could be performed by someone in the family; Austin could live a normal life without most medications. If the transplant is done by someone who matched with him off the donor list he could have many complications, medications, and other problem follow. It was a chance at survial though. Garrett and I were in this together to see if we were matches. My chances of being a perfect match were only 25%. Unfortunately, Garrett is our half brother so his chances were slim to be a match. Although, I know he would have given anything to be a match, and save his brother. Garrett and I got tested, just a quick swab of our mouth, and that's it! Now it was a waiting game.

Austin has always loved baseball, but mostly he LOVES the Cubs. One of his last wishes was to go to a Cubs baseball game. My parents hadn't heard from the doctors in over a week. This wasn't a good sign and could have meant none of us matched, and they were looking for someone on the list. A couple hours into the trip we received a phone call, and I remember my mom answering it with a shaky tone, and tears filling her eyes. She screamed, "AARYN'S A PERFECT MATCH!" Tears filled everyone eyes as we knew that this could be the beginning to a new life. One that didn't include the hospital celebrating our birthdays, and having to hide Easter eggs for us early in the morning. We celebrated extra hard that night with ice cream (which was by far my favorite part as a 12 year old), and a Cubs win of course. All I could think about was: I was finally going to be able to help my brother, and not watch him get poked time and time again on the sidelines. 

July 15th 2009 at 6am they brought me into the hospital. I remember being terrified, but Austin, the pro he was, told me there was nothing to be scared about. Funny, how my little brother, who is four years younger than me, had to comfort me in that moment. I put my tough face on, and was ready to be put under. 

25 needles to the both hips later, and I was out! I remember how much pain I was in for atleast a week, but I knew Austin had been through worse, and pushed through it. I couldn't see him for months. He lived at the hospital in a secluded area. He had no immune system, and had to build it back up. 

I remember the day he was able to come home so clearly. Garrett and I wrote with chalk and finger paint all over the sidewalk and garage in big letters, "WELCOME HOME AUSTIN!" Neighbors brought over signs, and it seemed like our miracle had came true. 

We now celebrate Austin being almost 8 YEARS CANCER FREE! 
 

Now, I can say none of this would have been possible without the love and support Children's Cancer Connection brings to my family, and thousands of others. I was eight years old when the Child Life Specialist (Emily) was talking to my parents about Sibling Camp. When she told me about it, I couldn't help but be so excited I told everyone about it for months. I only spent a week here and knew I had found my forever family. I wasn't bullied, I was listened to, but I was most importantly HEARD. As a sibling you have it rough, and most people may not realize it. It can be damaging. At camp though, everyone had different cancer stories, but we were all so similar. We went through the same battles, and in that is comfort. I met some of my life long friends going to camp. I'm proud to still be able to attend, and now pay it back for kids that are/were fighting a battle similar to mine. This camp means the world to hundreds of kids who attend. 

A GREAT thing about camp is that it is completely free to the family and camper who may attend camp. That's why we fundraise to help send campers to camp! It takes about $3500 to support a cabin of campers for a week, and there are over 200 children who may attend camp.

Oncology and Sibling camp is very similar when compared to normal summer camp. We enjoy horse back riding, ziplining, rock wall climbing, hiking, swimming, smores (everyones' favortie), canoeing, and much more. On the last night of camp we have Wish Night. This is the most emotional night of the entire week experience. Kids are free to share their stories of their battle, or really anything they like. We can laugh at the funny ones maybe about a child missing their pet, but also we can hold eachother tight when there's a heavy story. We also have balloons for those who have lost their battle to cancer in the past year, and we sing together as they float off. We enjoy bomb pops and fireworks, holding eachother extra close knowing it may be an entire year until you see your best friend again, but it doesn't matter because they are always there for you, no matter what you may be going through throughout that year. 

I'm still very close to the friends I made at camp and would consider some of them my best friends for life. Camp is my favorite vacation of the year, and it has been since I was eight years old. I've shared my story before, but I never understood how to share my passion before. So if you would like to help send a camper to camp please donate. It can be $1, $5, or however generous you may be feeling. Anything and everything helps, and I can gurantee it does mean the world to the kids, and families you are helping out. 

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask! 

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It is truly appreciated!