I never had the opportunity to go to camp until this year when I went to Camp Horizon. I had always been so sick, but this year, thanks to many Doctors and to the Halifax Chapter's generosity, I had the chance to go to camp.
I was afraid at first, because with the exception of hospital stays I had never been away from my family...BUT what a wonderful time I had. From the time I arrived in Halifax to board the plane, until my flight arrived back in Halifax. I smiled, and that is something I never did.
You see, I never had friends due to my illness through the years, once they found out I had ostomies they were no longer my friends and then convinced others not to be my friends either.
At camp I was treated like a person, an equal. I was not ridiculed or made fun of. I went swimming, played games and even went river rafting. My least favorite thing was the high rope, but I proved to myself that I could!!
When I got home, someone asked me "what I got from camp??" So I thought about it for a while ....I found the person I want to be, I found a new reason to keep going and fight the many illnesses and infections that keep happening. I found self-confidence. To sum it up I found myself!!!
I want to thank you all for making this trip possible, you gave me my life, and you gave me the power to dream again and you gave me a future.
I cannot wait to go back next year (hint, hint) and in the future I would like to return to the Camp as a counselor, as I am sure there are young people like me that could use this experience.
Thank you for the opportunity to tell you all this,
Gavelle Whynot
