Diabetes Camp

June 6-10

Akron Children’s Hospital offers a diabetes camp each summer at Camp Y-Noah.  They rent the camp, and staff it with endocrinologists, nurses, and all the people who know exactly what to do with the kids medical needs.  They also get counselors and junior counselors who were campers and are diabetics to guide the kids in the most fun week ever.

Ellie was excited.  Then nervous.  Then unsure.  Then accepting.  Then excited/nervous.

We loaded up Monday around noon to head to camp.  We had the bag packed, bedding in tow, even bought a small rechargeable fan for her to use. 

We removed her Dexcom – the glucose number tracker we rely on – because they wanted kids to go without electronics and this uses her phone to run.

We proceeded through the nine stations – all well organized and well run.  There were stations for your name and the swag you get (new glucometer, glucose tablets, t-shirt, water bottle all in a bag), checking meal carb plans, verifying insulin types and ratios, turning in pumps/supplies if you had them, and getting your cabin number. 

Finally, we were led to her cabin.  The counselor that took us there told us her favorite things in the past at camp have been Gaga Ball Pit, horseback riding, and being with others that are like her.  Cabin 1 was attached to the infirmary which made all the dosing very convenient.  It was a cabin with ten 9-10 year-old girls along with 3 counselors. 

I helped Ellie make her bed, took a quick picture, and off I went – leaving her to try something new and brave.

    

While she was gone, Jeremy was also gone for 3 days in Washington/Idaho.  So, Madison and I held down the fort.  We went shopping in Canton for summer clothes, shopping at MCC for fun trinkets.  We invited Grandma and Grandpa Ediger over for dinner one night.  Grandma invited her out for a ladies day with Megan – playing in the creek, eating out, and hanging out. 

              

I tried to dig out from my KC trip and the end of school – cleaned the showers, vacuumed the floors, changed some sheets, did some laundry, and decluttered a bit.

Madison had the idea of making a welcome home chalk sign for her on the driveway.  So, she and I worked on that on Thursday night.

  

On Friday, Jeremy, Madison and I returned to Camp to pick her up.  We assumed we would find her happy, but I was dreading that the opposite could also be true.  Thankfully, she was bouncing off the wall happy.  She had everything packed up, a pen pal’s address in tow, and a huge smile on her face. 

It was nothing but camp stories all the way home.  She was scariest story teller, earned the curious camper award for trying everything, ate cotton candy, enjoyed a wacky campfire, and so much more.  She plans to go back next year – so I better keep my eye out for the date and get the registration in.  I am so happy for her!