Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times near Idyllwild, Calif. started with pediatric cancer patients from UCLA, according to Volunteer Nurse Fran Wiley, who was a nurse at UCLA. Recently, this program had its Come Home to Camp Gala last October in Malibu at Calamigos Ranch where the camp had its first session. Wiley knew another nurse, Barbara Britt at CHLA who worked with Dr. Stuart Siegal. CHLA had a trial of a camp and wanted to have kids from other hospitals involved, so Britt invited Wiley to bring several of her cancer patients from UCLA, who now still volunteers her time at two summer/youth camp sessions and a family camp. "We typically have around 125 campers per session (sometimes as many as 140) and also oversee the health of about 50 staff working with the campers. We take care of kids with cancer related problems, give medications, do first aid for small injuries and arrange transportation if a child becomes seriously ill or injured. We work as a team of at least one Pediatric Oncologist and several nurses. We often have both medical trainees and student nurses as well," Wiley said. The health care team at the camp is crucial to the patients, to let them stay at camp. The camp itself serves more than 1,500 campers annually.
For example, Manny, a patient who had brain cancer, needed constant care for his ailments when he attended camp at the age of 7 until his last visit at the age of 14.
"They are always ready for anything," said Manny's mother and Volunteer Counselor Lisa “Dust” Fernandez. "There were two times that Manny needed to cut his trip short. He had finished his first chemo treatment just before leaving for camp, and he spiked a fever four days into the camp week and was flown back to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by helicopter. I received the call while was already in the air, when I arrived at the hospital Manny was so thrilled to have been in a helicopter all he did was talk about the flight. My biggest surprise was to see two camp counselors there. They drove down the mountain all the way back to Los Angeles just to make sure that he was alright. Now that told my husband and I that this camp was a special place." Manny went home with the Lord in November 2010, with positive memories of this unique camp, which now is a model for many other types of camps to follow, according to Wiley.
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"It is amazing to see the self-confidence develop in a shy, insecure child. Camp is all about what you CAN do, not what you CAN'T do. As a child with cancer has so many restrictions, camp is a place where every child can explore their abilities in a safe environment. Another benefit is respite for the parents, who can be confident that the child is happy and safe, and they can get a rest from the visits to the clinic, hospital and all the care a sick child requires. We actually did a study that was published that showed a lasting lifting of depression as well as other benefits," Wiley said.
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