Kids with Chronic Illness: A Journey to What's Possible
Millions of children in this country have life-long chronic illnesses and disabilities – a harsh reality that they and their parents have to live with every day. The lives of these children are often focused on their limitations – constant reminders about what everyone else can do, and they can’t.
But for a growing number of children and their families – and for their doctors as well – that’s beginning to change. Through the development of innovative approaches that stretch these children beyond everyone’s expectations, they’re learning how to focus on their possibilities rather than their limitations. The result is, these kids are learning to soar – to reach beyond what everyone thought were their limits, and develop a level of confidence and independence that is inspiring to them and breathtaking to the people around them. Join us now as we take a journey with some of these lucky people – on the surface, a journey to a summer camp, but on a deeper level, a “journey to what’s possible.”
Guests:
Maddie Lee- 12 year old who has cerebral palsy
Tracy Lee - Maddie’s Mom
Spencer Lee - (age 8) Maddie’s little sister
Pattie Petty - Chairman and CEO, Victory Junction Gang Camp
Paul Sagerman, MD - Pediatrician and Victory Junction Gang Camp Doctor; Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Wake Forest University Hospital
Morgan Sagerman - (age 8) Dr. Sagerman’s son, who will be going to Victory Junction Gang Camp next year
Tips:
Kids with chronic illnesses and disabilities can be much more independent, and accomplish enormously more, than most people think they can. The trick is to put them in an environment in which “no” isn’t part of the vocabulary, and in which the people around them teach them to stretch beyond the expectations and limits that most people assume they will be bound by. This story shows one way to make that happen.
Resources:
Victory Junction Gang Camp
http://www.victoryjunction.org/
336-498-9055
The Association of Hole in Wall Camps
203-562-1203
