Thank you to everyone who came out to support Camp Happy Days at the 9th annual Bo’s Roast last week. Now it’s time for the Modansky Homes Team to give away a New Nexgrill has grill! And the winner is......... #modanskyhomesteam #superbowlsunday #camphappydays #toprealtorteam https://www.instagram.com/p/Btbr-jZhFIE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=c310t2yh87ua
The month of September is filled with bringing awareness to many causes, but one of them really stuck out to me and Mel so we decided to make our September donation by way of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Everyone knows cancer SUCKS! It affects so many people and their families, but something seems terribly wrong when it is affecting a child as they have hardly even lived yet. Over my 4 years in Charleston, I have made some truly amazing friends that I now call family, and one of them is a Pediatric Cancer Survivor. She is the one that brought the cause to our attention on September 1st with a simple Facebook post stating it was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and asked for people to make donations to Camp Happy Days. I’ll let her explain about Camp Happy Days, how important it is, and a little about her story...
Camp Happy Days (CHD) is an organization that provides children with cancer (and their siblings) hope. That is the most basic way to explain what CHD can do for the children that are apart of it. The children who get involved get to see other children that are going through some of the same trials and don't feel as alone. They feel normal because being bald, having a prosthetic leg, having to take tons of medication, having numerous "battle scars" is the norm. For some children, right now may feel like treatments/tests/surgeries will never end, and they may want to give up their fight. At CHD they not only make friends with fellow children dealing with cancer, but also get to see survivors!
I can say all these amazing things about Camp Happy Days because I got to experience it as a camper, counselor and a nurse. I was so angry to deal with cancer again at 17. My mom had had breast cancer twice, and no one in my family thought it was fair to have to go through it all again. I got to camp and realized that there were far more younger, brilliant, caring, beautiful, and unfortunately worse diagnosed new friends that were dealing with life so much better than I was. These are some of the most brilliant humans anyone could meet. They didn't deserve to get dealt the cancer card. Camp Happy Days gives memories full of laughter, friends who turn into family, and hope so they can fight just one more day. They give these children what they deserve: if just for only a moment the chance to forget the cancer. They remind these kids that when they are with their Camp Happy Days family they can be just children, and not a pediatric cancer patient.
This amazing woman is now a part of our family, and I always know that if she’s hanging out with us that I will certainly be spending my night trying to keep my sides from hurting after laughing so much. I’ve been through some trials in my life, but she certainly exudes how life is all about your outlook - and her outlook is a very bright and happy one.
While working at Camp Happy Days, she met an amazing young lady who is now part of her family. Here’s a little about her story:
When I was just about to turn 11 I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. I was a few months shy of entering in to quite possibly the most awkward years of any adolescence life, middle school. So losing my hair was like adding insult to injury at this point. Shortly after my diagnosis I was taken out of school and put on homebound because clearly I was not healthy enough to be in school with all the germs that children passed on to each other. But being out of school made me feel like a freak. Everyone was making friends and connections with people and I was the lonely cancer kid, no one else knew what it was like and all they could do is send cards with cookie cutter phrases such as “praying for you” and “get well soon.” I had no one to relate to, that is until I heard about Camp Happy Days. At Camp Happy Days I met so many people who knew exactly what I was going through, who understood all of the obscure medical terms and the pain of sitting in a hospital bed for days on end when there is nothing good on TV. Not only did I meet people just like me, but I met some of the greatest mentors in my life. Camp Happy Days is a family, and like most families we stick together no matter what. The best part is you are accepted when you are at your worst. People don’t tip toe around you for being bald or for being sick. You feel like you have a safe haven, a home away from home. To this day Camp Happy Days has a special place in my heart. My counselors from when I was a sick little 12 year old girl are now my friends and mentors. The other kids that I have met along the way inspire me to keep pushing even if I feel like all I want to do is give up, and the feeling that you are part of a family never goes away. I am forever grateful for Camp Happy Days and their mission to help Kids Kickin Cancer.
I’ve met this amazing young woman and she is now a sophomore at Clemson and I can only imagine that she is soaring and inspiring others around her.
(The pictures above contain both of those who shared their stories, along with another counselor who is part of our family, and others while they all spent time at Camp Happy Days over the last few summers).
There are many amazing organizations that help and support those fighting cancer, but we are donating to Camp Happy Days because of the support they have given to our friends, and so they may continue to help Kids Kickin’ Cancer!!
Camp Happy Days -- Website home page -- Link to Donate
American Childhood Cancer Organization
Children’s Cancer Research Fund
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
