How our campers take Camp back home with them

     We enjoy being with our campers for a whole week at camp.  We play.  We have fun.  We enjoy each other’s company.  At the end of the week, everyone says their tearful goodbyes as we bid adieu to camp for the year.  But is that the last time we see our campers for the year? NO!

     Throughout the year, we get excited every time we open our mailbox (yes we have a mailbox! Send us something  fun at P.O. Box 7173, University Station, Provo, UT 84604) and find an invitation to a camper’s event.  Over the years, this has ranged from band concerts and school plays, to Eagle Scout Court of Honors and baptisms.  We do our best to make it to as many as we can to support our campers and their accomplishments.  At the same time, we have become more familiar with Northern Utah!  So if you ever want to go up north, we can show you the way!

But more than simply a night of entertainment, what these children are accomplishing runs so much deeper.  At camp, Camp Kesem provides children with the opportunity to be kids for the week.  To leave problems and burdens back home.  For a week, they run, jump, eat, play, make, swim, climb, eat, shout, fish, hide, eat, and sometimes sleep if there is time.  But what of the other 51 weeks in the year?  When we attend these activities the kids are a part of, we are able to see them take home the mission of Camp Kesem: to be kids.  They refuse to let cancer take a hold of their lives and continue to keep doing what makes them happy.

     A few weeks ago, we were able to hold our Fall Reunion, and were very pleased with such a large turnout.  We were able see many of our campers and catch up on what they had been up to since camp.  School, crushes, dang homework, and eating would frequent these conversations.  We see these kids succeeding and achieving and know that they will overcome the presence of cancer within their families. They have already shown us how.

                  

Why are You Grateful for Camp Kesem?

Every year, it seems that we seem to become busier and busier during the holiday season while fretting about what to get for others while, at the same time, getting a little something for ourselves along the way.  There is an e-card that humorously states concerning this week: "Because only in America do people trample others over sales exactly a day after being grateful for what they already have."  While we should pat ourselves on the back for continually thinking of others this season, we would be mindful to take a step back and look at what has already positively filled our lives.

This past weekend, Camp Kesem BYU held our much anticipated Fall Reunion where we were able to see many of our campers and their families.  Much was accomplished at this reunion; parents mingled with other parents while our counselors met with them to discuss future CK projects, over 20 donated pizzas were, 3 lucky campers won the coveted jars of candy for guessing the correct amount, and one counselor spent the day playing hide and seek (mostly hide) from the many campers seeking to TAKE DOWN THE DRAGON (figuratively).  Needless to say, much fun was had and memories were made.

One activity we asked the parents and some of the campers to participate in was writing down what Camp Kesem has done for their family.  The responses are so different from each other, but each card reminds us why each of us Kesem.  Here are some of the responses we received:

• "I am so thankful for Camp Kesem.  Camp Kesem saved my children.  Cancer has been rough not only on my husband & I, but it has been so rough on our children as well.  Camp Kesem has helped my children survive the emotional toll that cancer takes on the family.  They know they have a support system & know that they have people that understand and care."
• "We are thankful for Camp Kesem because it helps our kids realize they are not alone in all they have gone thru (and continue to) Thanks"
• "The Gunthers are thankful for Camp Kesem for so many reasons!  My kids LOVE the week of camp.  Even though they only see these kiddos a few times a year, the bond between them is so strong.  The positive attention and unending energy given by the counselors is  literally life changing.  We cannot say enough wonderful things about CKBYU!"
• "We are thankful for CK because...Going to camp gave our kids hope for a brighter tomorrow and an amazing support system to help them through the dark days that come along with a cancer diagnosis.  CK means magic.  CK is love!"
• "I am thankful for Camp Kesem because...I love seeing how my daughter always wants to tell people about Camp Kesem because she feels comfortable and understood by her counselors and fellow campers."
• "The smile on my daughters face says it all at the end of the week.  Big shout out to all the volunteers that make it happen."
• "You give our kids something to look forward to all year long.  You are totally positive in their lives.
• "Camp Kesem means my kids get a week to hang out with other kids that know what it feels like to have a parent with cancer."
• "We're thankful for Camp Kesem because I recently read through a texting thread and saw my 12-year-old daughter's words of encouragement, comfort, and strength to a friend who just found out her mom has cancer.  The same encouragement, comfort, and strength she learned at Camp Kesem!"
• "I'm so thankful for all of your hard work and "time."  That's what its all about and our boys love the time they get to spend at Camp Kesem."
• I am thankful for Camp Kesem because I don't have to act like an adult.  I can be a kid at Kesem."
• I am thankful for Camp Kesem because I am more comfortable being myself now."
• I am thankful for Camp Kesem because of how much the counselors love and support my children.  I am also thankful for how much confidence my kids have since attending camp.  Double T is looking forward to being a counselor when he is is college."

Everyone Kesem's for one reason or another.  Why are you grateful for Camp Kesem?

Summit!!

National Camp Kesem Summit 2013

This last weekend the Camp Kesem BYU Coord Board went to the National Camp Kesem Summit in Detroit Michigan! While we were there we met other incredibly passionate people who love Kesem just as much as we do, learned how to do our jobs better, ate more food than you might think possible, played four square until 3 AM both nights, did the Saltine challenge (Baloo actually completed it!) and learned how to better serve our families.

While at #cksummit2013 we heard from some amazing Camper families who go to Camp Kesem in Michigan. They were asked a series of questions about how they felt about Camp Kesem, what was their favorite memory, etc. But one of the most important questions asked was this:

How can you be the best Camp Kesem Counselor?

Their answers:

1. Always share.

2. NEVER say no.

3. Bring a large bag of Jolly Ranchers.

4. Be fun.

5. Be yourself.

6. Realize how much campers idolize you. You are their role models. They take that love you give them and then give it to everyone else.

7. They look up to you.

8. Be PREPARED.

9. Show you how to make friends.

10. Have fun. Don’t take yourself seriously.

11. Pretend like you know what you’re doing.

12. Take a HUGE nap before you come, you won’t get any sleep during camp.

13. Talk to the parents about their kids on the last day.

Now, we do a lot of training before camp starts, but this advice is priceless and should be put into the curriculum. So thank you campers!

We were just a little tired…

Changing Lives Changed my Life

            I once had a patient’s mother call me while I was working at the hospital. I work in the radiology department and this mother needed results of an exam her daughter had done. She lived pretty far away from my hospital and was nervous about these results. Her doctor’s office was not open that evening and because of HIPPA laws I was unable to give her results over the phone. I could sense the anxiety and fear in her voice and made arrangements to have her results sent to a partnering clinic near her home. I honestly didn’t feel like I was going too much out of my way, I was just trying to do my job but the next day I came to work and flowers had been delivered to me from this lady. (Before this happened I would joke that the next person to send me flowers was the person I was going to marry, irony is funny. I’ve since changed that to be the next GUY that sends me flowers). I have never met this lady, only spoke to her on the phone but the “extra” effort I went to for her was not unnoticed. I often think about that experience as I work and it motivates me to do better.  I’m sure she has no idea that I still think of that experience. At times you see how an event impacted your life once that event is over; once you’ve moved on and had a chance to look back on it. You realize that the goal you were trying to accomplish has had an impact larger than you could have imagined and on more people than you initially intended it for, especially for yourself. Let me explain how this has been true for me, through my experience with Camp Kesem.

For the past two years I have devoted time, effort and other resources to help kids who desperately needed me. I found so much joy in helping these kids, although exhausted at times; I knew that what I was doing would have a lifelong effect on the kids who attended Camp Kesem. They may not remember me specifically but they will remember the feeling of camp, the fun they had and the relief that came from knowing people cared. Besides that, I just had fun planning camp and enjoyed being around the group of people that I worked with. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into at first but I’m so glad I jumped in. During the last year as Camper Care Coordinator, I especially grew closer with the families of these kids. I truly admire the parents of these children and aspire to raise my kids as the Wright family has done, enjoy the moments I have with my kids like the Goble family does and celebrate the achievements of my kids like the Koffords do.  I was so focused on the fact that I was helping to improve their lives in some way, which is a good thing but it wasn’t until recently that I was able to see how I was truly changed by them and this experience. I of course have a great love for Camp Kesem but I also feel a powerful connection with charity work in general. I now realize how much devotion goes in to each non-profit organization. I believe that the most sincere and unselfish people work in non-profits. I have met some of these people and have watched them give their lives to the people they serve. Some of these people, especially those involved with Camp Kesem have become lifelong friends to me and that alone has changed me for good. Now I sound like I’m right out of the Wicked musical. For those who have seen that, you’ll know what I’m referencing. For those who have not seen it, stop reading this and find a copy.

Back to the point of this post. My experience in Camp Kesem has also helped me gain skills and experiences that are truly priceless in the career oriented world we live in. Now as a CK Alumni and graduate from BYU I have started applying for jobs, a real fun experience. Application after application, I answer questions about group work experience, leadership skills and fundraising experience. I can only imagine how much harder this application process would be if I didn’t have my experience with Camp Kesem. I can confidently answer yes to any of those questions on an application or in an interview. I haven’t landed that awesome post grad job yet but I’m confident that I will soon and that my work in Camp Kesem will be a selling point, no doubt about it. When it comes down to it, I thought I was helping kids who have a parent with cancer but those kids and the work I did for Camp Kesem changed me more. The feeling you get after putting your heart and soul into something as good as Camp Kesem is the most rewarding feeling. On top of that high, you reap benefits that will help you throughout your entire life. I will always look at my Camp Kesem experience as a positive one and will continue to share the magic throughout my life. P.S. I haven’t received flowers since that lady. Just a little update in case you were wondering.

My name is Band-Aid and I was the nurse’s assistant and now am one of the Operations coordinator for Camp Kesem. The first time I heard about Camp Kesem, Curious George announced that applications for Cabin Counselors were open and they were looking for people to fill the positions. The idea sounded fun but at the time (and still today) I was working two jobs and trying to maintain my sanity with school, so adding another thing to my agenda seemed to be far too difficult. I missed the application date and subsequently missed my opportunity to join the Camp Kesem team…or so I thought. Several months later while driving back from a conference, Curious George (CG) and I started talking about Camp Kesem again and I expressed my regrets for not applying to be a counselor. With a little excitement in his voice CG told me that they were in need of a nurse’s assistant and that if I wanted to the position was mine. Without hesitation I accepted happily and started to get extremely excited for my first Kesem experience.

My Experience with Cancer

    When I was 16 years old my mom sat my siblings and I down after dinner and announced that she had something that she needed to tell us. For several years she had been having lower back and abdominal pains, but none of the doctors she had been to see were able to determine the definite cause. Finally they found it, Leiomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer in the abdomen. The doctors soon took her into surgery where they removed a tumor the size of a football, after which they started her on two different forms of Chemotherapy. For a while things were looking up and she seemed to be doing better. My mom was always positive about it all and tried her hardest to keep her head up through all the treatments, especially when talking to us kids about it. As the time went on I had a feeling that there was something that she wasn’t telling me about how serious the situation was. I was finally able to contact some of her medical providers and get more detailed information, it was not what I wanted to hear, but it was what I knew to be true. My mom only had a short time left to live; the cancer had taken over most of her vital organs and was spreading with great speed. By this point I was 18 years old and in my senior year of high school. I was spending every weekend at my mom’s house in New Mexico doing what I could to alleviate some of her burdens while trying to spend whatever time I had left with her.

    The time was drawing near, my mom only had about a week left to live. Her hospice nurse requested that each of us take a moment to say our goodbyes. As we gathered around my mom’s bed we were given just a brief amount of time to reminisce on a lifetime of memories and express everything we wanted her to know. No one can possibly prepare themselves enough for a moment like that; no one can possibly say all of the things they wanted their mom to know in just a matter of moments. I took about a month off of school so that I could try to take care of all the final arrangements for a memorial, take care of my family, and try to sort out my mother’s things. The morning she passed away is a memory that will forever be with me and continues to be so vivid it feels like it was yesterday. Cancer affects every person close to the individual with the diagnosis. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, so was I, along with every other member of my family. My childhood was taken from me when cancer took over my family, I felt like I didn’t have an escape or outlet. Aside from my siblings, I felt like I was alone in my situation, and that there were no other kids around me that I could lean on who had a similar understanding of the situation I was thrust into.

How Camp Kesem Changed my Life

    As camp approached I had a pit in my stomach, I had no idea what to expect nor did I think I could really be what I thought these kids needed. I was filled with excitement and nervousness simultaneously. The first day of camp was exciting, all of the kids arrived with smiles that went on for miles and a light about them that could blind you. Because I was the nurse’s assistant, Stiches (the nurse) and I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to all of the parents as they checked their kiddos into camp. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of gratitude that these families had. They have been able to see the “magic” that Camp Kesem brings and they have seen the beautiful power it has to change lives. This brought me hope and the confidence I needed to move into the week knowing that no matter what happens, this was for the kids and that was my goal; to create as many opportunities to for magic and joy as I possibly could. The staff and kids alike are some of the greatest inspirations of my life. I was amazed at the strength, compassion, and generosity each person possessed. I witnessed miracles that week; I watched perfect strangers reach out and comfort their neighbors in times of hardship. I watched staff members go about each day with energy unparalleled to anything I have seen, joy beyond measure and a heart full of love and compassion, all while running on about four hours of sleep each night. To say that Camp Kesem changed my life would be an understatement; it has become a part of me and is now a driving force for me to desire to change the world in whatever way I can. One week of camp might sound menial and ineffective to the naked eye. But in that one week, these kids are given the opportunity to be a kid again. They are given an opportunity to escape their burdens at home and be around people who know what they are going through. Camp Kesem provides opportunities to have someone to walk with you as you face the fears of a parent struggling with cancer; it brings back childhood even if it is for a brief moment in time.

With all my heart,

Band-Aid

CK Love

Hello CK Family!!

My name is Aybaybay (or the Counselor formerly known as Georgie Manna) and I am a Community Outreach Co-Chair for camp 2014. I originally heard about Camp Kesem through my older sister, Benji Manna, and immediately wanted to be involved, so last Fall I applied to be a cabin counselor for CKBYU 2013. Best. Decision. Ever.

Here is my story: When I was twelve years old my dad was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and underwent amputative surgery which, more or less, cured him. It was an unbelievable relief!! Three years later, however, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. No one in our family expected to ever deal with cancer again, so needless to say my world was turned upside down. After a few worry-filled years of surgeries, chemotherapy, experimental drugs, and countless tests, it was finally declared that my mom was also in remission.

During my experience with cancer, there was nothing like Camp Kesem available, nor did we even think to look for a similar organization. I know first-hand what it is like to have a parent with cancer, and just how much it takes away from your childhood, which is exactly why I am so grateful to be a part of Camp Kesem. I know how important it is to have the chance to be a kid and take a break from the battle with cancer, and how life changing this week is for everyone involved.

I have been so inspired by all of the campers (as well as their families) and it has been one of the most amazing experiences for me to see all of these incredible kids form lifelong connections with others in similar situations. They are without a doubt the greatest group of kids on earth and I am so blessed to be able to be a part of their lives. I cannot wait for camp this year and am so excited for everyone o see what we have in store. There is nothing like this anywhere else in the world, and I can say without a 

doubt that Camp Kesem has changed my life forever.

CKlove,

Aybaybay

Camp Kesem: In Preparation of Changing Lives

By its very definition "Kesem," in Hebrew, means magic. At camp, I have come to learn that "Kesem" is much more than a simple definition though. It embodies a lifestyle, an adventure, a hope. I first heard about Camp Kesem BYU while sitting in the all too exciting beginnings of an American Lit. course. A bubbly blonde walked up to the front of the class, with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. I figured that her life must have been going pretty well so I payed attention to her short spiel about an opportunity to be a camp counselor for a group that helps kids who are dealing with cancer in their homes. She wrote the time and place that they would host an introductory meeting and I thought, "Why not?" Later that day I walked into the varsity theater where I was welcomed by the sight of a total of five people. Obviously I began to have my doubts, but decided to sit in the very front next to someone with a smile equally as large as the blonde's from class. She introduced herself as Griff as she handed me a peanut butter and apricot sandwich, making me believe that her parents we really "creative" individuals. I learned that it was simply a camp name and that if I joined I'd have to think of one too. It wasn't until my first day at camp that I realized the significance of creating a new identity, a means of escape from everything outside our realm of reality.

After a ridiculously outlandish and fun couple of meetings I began to catch of bit of Kesem fever. The energy was and still is super contagious and I couldn't wait till August rolled around. After a brief hiatus in June and July I was ready to get started. As we drove up a canyon in Salt Lake it became apparent to me that it would be a great week, but I really didn't know what to expect. Sure, we had gone over protocols, activities, and schedules, but camp is something you experience, not something you explain. All of the awesome/crazy people that I had meetings with over the last few months were there, along with a few more new kids which I was convinced must have been equally as awesome/crazy. We began our Monday by setting up a bridge that would help define the week to follow (it was the coolest bridge ever). Just take a look...

The mixture of chalk drawings, the banner, the puffy balls, and the lighting would only help solidify just how great this week would become. A few kids came at first, but before long we had a train of excited and nervous campers. It was only natural that we welcome them with a mini dance party followed by an exchange of new t-shirts. As soon as they had all arrived...well...a whole lot of amazing things happened. Among them included crazy water fights, me getting dressed up like (well the pic will have to explain), overcoming fears #ropescourse, and learning life lessons from the most impressive and inspirational kids that I have ever met. Whether it was their constant joy despite their circumstances or sheer superhero mentality, they all left a lasting impression.

So now, whenever anyone asks what "Kesem" means, I can say without a doubt that it is indeed magic.

-Otto