Name: Brittany
Hometown: Roseville, MN
Diagnosis: Tetralogy of Fallot
Surgeries: 1
What I like about Camp Odayin:
I have been going to Camp Odayin for 4 years. I heard about Camp Odayin on TV. It was my mom and dad who encouraged me to go even though I didn’t want to at first. When I first got there I was very scared and nervous. I ended up having a great time at camp. I met a lot of wonderful people who have some kind of heart condition like I do. Before I found out about Camp Odayin I thought I was the only kid that had a heart condition. I would always wear a one-piece bathing suit because I was afraid someone would laugh at me or make fun of me because I had a scar on my chest from my surgery. I wouldn’t even tell my friends that I had a heart condition because I didn’t want to lose friends for be made fun of just because I was different from them. I didn’t feel like that at Camp Odayin. At the camp I was able to wear a two-piece swim suit and not have to worry about hiding my scar because most of the other kids have one to. Every year when camp is over I am really bummed that I have to go home and leave all my friends. Every year I learn more about myself and others who share the same thoughts and feelings about having a heart condition. Camp Odayin is like my home in the summer, a place where I can go and not have to worry about anything concerning my scar. All year, I think about all the great times I’ve had at camp and how I can’t wait to go back next year and see all my friends and make new ones and experience new things each time.
1 comment:
Hi Brittany!
My name is Pam, and I was also born with Tetrology of Fallot. I had one surgery when I was 15 months old, open-heart surgery when I was 4 and a half, and another open-heart surgery this past summer - I am 33 years old. And I'm doing very well!
I really wish that I had a camp like Camp Odayin when I was growing up! You are very lucky.
Take care-
Pam
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