Cancer Camp

I’ve been putting this post off for a while, because I knew it was going to be a long one.   So sit down and make some popcorn while you read this.

A few weekends ago, we were very privileged to attend ‘Camp Challenge’ otherwise known in our house as ‘Cancer Camp.’  Back in January, as I was at one of my infusion sessions, there was a flier for families to register for Camp Challenge which is in it’s third year here. It’s a Fri-Sat-Sun getaway for families who have had or have cancer in their family.  It’s a time to get away and relax and forget the normal day to day events dealing with cancer.  It is a 100% free camp for everyone involved, but you have to be basically invited and there is a limited amount of slots available. 

We quickly filled out the registration which required a synopsis of your ‘cancer story’ and how it’s affected your family and a little of your family life.  So I told of how there were absolutely no risk factors, no warning, no family history, and how I couldn’t even get tested because I wasn’t old enough, don’t show signs of cancer, and probably just have ‘an infection that should go away in a few weeks’ (yeah, it sure was an infection alright!  and yes, I was told that). 

I wrote there were four kids in our family, and to go from one day living a normal healthy life, just dealing with things like what should we have for dinner today? and should we go to Walmart or Target?  and then the next day dealing with things like What does Stage 3C cancer mean?  and I have to get chemo AND radiation?

The registration was submitted and we waited.  Much to our surprise, I got an email back quickly from the Camp Founder, Organizer, Creator, and Director.  She was shocked by my story.  She then told me of her story. Her husband, Tom, was in his early 40’s, no warning signs, no history, he had same type of cancer, same stage. They have four kids in similar ages, and they live in Roseville.  She was pleased to invite us to attend the camp, along with 30 other families. Her husband had the same surgeries I did, had an ostomy like I did, went through the same chemo/radiation as I did, and had the same reconnect surgery as I did – just about a year earlier than me.

And to even add more to this story, when I was in the hospital with my reconnect surgery, she was one of the nurses that would come and visit me. She was like an angel peeking through the curtains for the first time. We hadn’t seen each other, but she knew I was coming in for surgery. “Mr. Gwilliam?” she said, and I said “that’s me. Are you Heidi?” She said “Yes. It’s so glad to finally meet you!” 

Anyhow, this story is getting longer than I intended, so I will wrap it up and get on to the pics. 

Over the next few months, we conversed via email often and she shared the ongoing battles her family was still having with her husband’s cancer.  She and her family tirelessly organized Camp Challenge, the various fund raisers throughout the year to pay for Camp Challenge, and served others so we could have a fun weekend away. A few years ago, her family attended a similar camp in Southern California and they were changed by it.  Not having anything like it in Northern California, they set out to change that and started a non-profit to do a camp like one they experienced.  The non profit is called ‘Cancer 0, Me 1” meaning that life’s score board should be Cancer 0, and Me 1, and not letting cancer win.

Here is a photo of their family – the Wieser’s – Tom, Heidi and their children. Even though they were going through as much as anyone there, they were ‘green shirts’ instead of ‘blue shirts’

The camp was held in the mountains near the bay area that during the school year, 5th grade classes from all over come to stay a week during school.  Little cabins, running hot water, electricity, yummy food and snacks, it’s the way to camp!  We saw lots of wildlife like deer and foxes.

When we drove up to the camp, the road was lined on both sides of the many many volunteers that made the camp a success. They were clapping and cheering us on as we drove up. We pulled in front and we were surrounded by “green shirts”. All the volunteers wore green shirts the entire time and the rest of us, the campers, all wore blue shirts.  The ‘green shirts’ opened our car doors, and began to unload all our stuff. We were introduced to our own private camp counselor who would attend to our every need and make sure we had a great time.  Ours was the best in the camp, and her name was Kelly. She also happens to live close by us!  She took us on a tour of camp, and told us our car would be parked, and all our stuff delivered to our cabins. We were given our shirts, and itinerates, and snacks, and sunscreen and chapstick and treats, and water bottles, etc etc. We were even given an ‘edible creation’ of cookies.

The next three days were filled with tons of things to do. We made new friends and all had a great time.

Our cabin was the ‘Eucalyptus Cabin’.  Can you guess why it was called that?

Yep, because it was right under a HUGE eucalyptus tree. We could always tell how to get back to our cabin – just look for the big tree.

One night there was a ‘drum circle’ where we all sat in a circle and each person had a different type of drum or bell or other hand instrument. It’s kinda hard to explain, but it was very fun.  Too bad I didn't’ take a video of it to show you.

This is Alex. He was a ‘green shirt’ and he was always doing everything and helping everyone! He was a favorite! He made everyone laugh.

Here is our ‘drum circle leader’.

Each night we had a campfire and made smores, and there were tons of glow sticks, necklaces, rings and pins.

 

 

There was a mini ropes course that we all had fun on.

 

One ‘green shirt’ brought her dog that was being trained to be a seeing-eye dog and was getting used to being in crowds of people. The dog was everyone's favorite, especially Hannah!

 

There was a pond that was hidden but it provided lots of play time and cool waters!  To get there you had to cross a stream on a fallen tree, up a hill, through a cow pasture and then suddenly it appeared out of nowhere!

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘green shirts’ transformed one of the cabins into an actual Spa that was staffed by actual masseuses. . The adults were given spa treatments ranging from one hour full body massages, pedicures, manicures, hair styles, hand/foot massages, etc. It was WONDERFUL!

 

The ‘Boogie Barn’ was hoppin each night with games and activities for the ‘younger crowd’ that didn’t want to go to bed at 9pm!  Needless to say, we were all at the Boogie Barn each night!

 

We had the BEST counselor assigned to us. Her name was Kelly and she and her daughter looked after our every need, desire and they anticipated what we would need and/or want to do.

They hung around with us a lot of the time as they were close to the ages of Meghan and Marissa.

We had fun playing archery, the kids got motorcycle rides, rock wall climbing, sports activities, parachute flipping games,bouncie houses,  dance lessons,magic shows and a favorite crowd pleaser, crafts. But they had special crafts and their saying was NO CRAPPY CRAFTS!  And they were not crappy! They were awesome like tie-dying tee shirts, pants, socks and even shoes, decoupage stuff, dinner plate making, picture frame wood burning and tons of other COOL crafts.  The craft barn was always busy!

 

 

 

 

Each night at the campfire there was live music and they took requests and were really good!

Sunday morning we had a small gathering for a ‘non-denominational worship service’ where we were led in a discussion by a pastor. She gave a good lesson on God’s gifts to us – the earth and everything we have around us.

One of the nights was a special campfire celebration.  Before dinner, we were given an empty scroll that we were to go back to our cabins and write down our hopes and dreams. We were told to bring the completed scroll to the evening’s campire.  Being a good obedient family, we did as we were told.

Our ‘host family’, the Wieser’s led the campfire by telling us about the scrolls.

We could write whatever we wanted on the scrolls, and each family would come up as a family, and say whatever they wanted. They could read what was on the scroll, they could tell us some of what was on the scroll, they could say nothing. And then they would put the scroll in the campfire. After everyone’s hopes & dreams were in the fire, the ashes would be collected and then each family would be given a vial of the ashes as a reminder of the struggle we are all going through. The vial would represent everyone’s hopes and dreams and the support of everyone that was there at camp. So we would take home the love and hope and dreams of everyone.  In addition, the Wieser’s put some ashes of the first two Cancer Camps they put on into the fire.  So we really had tons of hopes and dreams to take home!

That campfire was filled with tons of stories and tears and hugs. It lasted well into the evening, but was a very special event. Everytime we look at our vial, we remember it. Not only did each family get a vial, each member of the family got their OWN vial to keep.

It was over too soon!  The day of our departure, all our luggage was taken to our car, and all the cars were washed by the ‘green shirts’ and our clean car (inside and out) was brought right to us.  After tons of hugs and goodbyes, we left Cancer Camp.

 

Here is everyone who attended:

 

Even today, the kids comment often about going to Cancer Camp and how fun it was and how blessed we are to have people around us that plan such things like this.  They are constantly asking if we can go again next year. Only if we get invited we tell them.

We constantly pray for the Wieser’s and especially Tom who is going through some extreme battles right now with some serious cancer issues.