Published: July 17, 2008 08:37 am            

Common Grounds

Day camp unites youth living with diabetes

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

Children from all over the area attended a camp Tuesday afternoon at the 312 Daniel Boone National Forest Bridge Park. Aside from participating in fun and educational activities, they all had something else in common — each of the children have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas fails to produce insulin.

The Diabetic Day Camp, now in its sixth consecutive year, is organized by Baptist Regional Medical Center and the Whitley County Extension Office. The children in attendance ranged in ages from 5 to 16 years old.

“It’s just something we want the children to have a fun experience with,” said Linda Mills, a Registered Nurse with BRMC and a Certified Diabetes Educator.

Activities at the camp included volleyball, a visit from the Whitley County EMS, crafts and a nature hike. They also learn about nutrition and how to stay healthy. The day started early, at around 9 a.m. and lasted until around 3:30 p.m., with the only break in the action a lunch complete with pizza.

“We keep them busy,” Mills said. “But we feed them good.”

For Mills, the camp is something she relates to personally.

“I’m a mom who had a son with Type 1 (diabetes) when he was a little boy,” she said.

She also said some of the kids at the camp come from small areas or communities in which they may be the only person their age with diabetes. Camp attendee Elizabeth Philpot said the Diabetic Day Camp helps alleviate that feeling of isolation.

“It’s fun,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun. It gets you out to meet new people.”

Amanda Ramsey, who is in her fourth year in attendance, said the camp is an event she anticipates each year.

“It’s something I look forward to every year, actually,” she said. “It is a high point of the summer.”

Eleven-year-old John Massie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was about 5. For the last three years, he’s made his way from the East Bernstadt area to attend the Diabetic Day Camp.

“It’s real fun to do,” he said. “It’s a real fun camp and anybody with diabetes should come. You can also learn stuff here. You learn a lot each day when you have diabetes.”

Massie said when he was first diagnosed, he was a little “shaky” and couldn’t do as much as he or his parents may have liked. But after getting an insulin pump, Massie said his life differs very little from any other child his age.

“Other than sticking your finger and checking your blood, you live a pretty normal life,” he said. “It really doesn’t change much. Basically, we’re just people with a dead organ.”

        

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