Vent Kids of Alabama |
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Supporting Amazing Families |
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LIGHT THE WAY VENT CAMP 2006 I would just like to thank everyone for your help with the 3rd Annual Light the Way Vent Camp. The camp was held July 6-9 and everyone had a great time. We had around 90 people total in attendance with 4 new families attending vent camp for the first time.
VSA Arts of Alabama came again and gave all of the children an opportunity to make their own picture to take home and take part in TWO large canvas pictures they created together with the art therapist Ali. We all had paint all over our hands and some had paint all over their feet too! As always, VSA Arts added so much to camp and we are very appreciative of their participation. They have attended every camp and also attend our Christmas parties each year. If you are interested in learning more about VSA please check out their website at www.vsartsalabama.org.
We also had a GA's group from my church, Loveless Park Baptist Church in McCalla, bring entertainment this year. The GA's put on a puppet show with a skit and songs which everyone enjoyed. The children and volunteers from the church then sang songs from VBS this year. Music is a big part of all of the Vent Kids lives and they loved having children there singing to them and interacting with them. We had about 20 people from Loveless Park come to volunteer Thursday and Friday. A different group came out Saturday to provide one of our meals. All of our families fell in love with our Pastor and all the families that volunteered. Thanks to all of them for their hard work, time and interaction with our families. It meant a lot to our kids to have people treat them like any other kids (because they are). We had a blast!
Jerry, Tye's dad, brought his KARAOKE equipment! I can't even put into words the fun we had with that!! Sam, was playing the gong show by running over the bad singers with her wheelchair. She had several people running for higher ground during their singing which she described as "just bad"! We all had a ball. We did have many good singers though and Tye Daily was among them. We did this last year for the first time and I believe it will not be an annual tradition. This gives our families an opportunity to just relax and have fun with each other. I laughed harder that night than I have in MANY months. Those moments are priceless and would only happen at camp!
Saturday was a very laid back day with everyone doing whatever they wanted on their on schedule. Jerry DiChiara, who I work with at City Wholesale, brought his pontoon boat again this year and took everyone out for boat rides. You don't get much more relaxed than being on the water! Several of our vent kids took long rides, John, Corey and Tye that I saw. I appreciate Jerry for coming out so much. The boat rides make a trip to the lake complete. For most of our families that is the only ride they will have all year. Thanks!
Saturday evening the kids were all awarded with their own medal for attending Light the Way Vent Camp 2006. The parents actually should get an award too for getting everything together and making the trip. It is not easy to go away for a few days with all the equipment that must be taken in addition to regular camp packing. I admire each of our families (especially the NEW families) for trying something new. The time we shared with each other was even more special this year. We are more like a family reunion than a camp. Nobody wanted to leave this year. We were already planning next year's camp and possibly a fall weekend.
Southern Home, employer to Jerry McGee, Tye's dad donated money they raised from bake sales, lunch sales and other things to help us with camp this year. The employees raised money and the owner of Southern Homes matched their contribution. Penny (Tye's mom) and Tye went out to local businesses in her community and asked for donations to help with camp. Tye talks about camp so much that they were all willing to give. Their local drug store, local Senator, wrecker companies and many others donated something to camp this year....I feel very honored to know this family and all the hard work they put in this year. Each of our families received a goody bag at camp and many of these items were donated or purchased with money donated from Russellville. An Outreach Church in Russellville donated paper goods, bread and many other items this year which was a huge help. Thanks to Jerry, Penny, Tye and Trent and all the people of Russellville that helped with camp this year.
Lastly I just want to thank everyone that donated in some form or another this year. There are too many people to list each one individually but you know who you are and we appreciate all of you.
Our meals were provided by: Individual Donations (they may or may not want their names mentioned so I'll be safe and not mention) for our Thursday night Pizza Night City Wholesale provided Hamburgers, Hot Dogs for lunch Friday which Brother Joel slaved over for us! Maxim Healthcare (many of us vent families nursing agency) provided Lasagna dinner with salad and garlic bread! Delicious Medical Resources (medical equipment company to many of us vent families) provided the donation for our Sandwiches and extras on Saturday Women's on Missions group from Lovelss Park Baptist Church provided a home cooked dinner Saturday evening for us which was exceptional
We were treated this year to a "SPECIAL BREAKFAST" cooked by our very own Jerry McGee (Tye's dad) with help from Beth Hulsey (Sam's mom). He was up VERY early cooking pancakes, eggs and sausage. We usually do cereal, bagels, breakfast bars, muffins etc for breakfast but not this morning! We are all really spoiled now and want this every year Jerry! I think he enjoyed doing it as much as we enjoyed eating it. Thanks!
I will try to mention as many names as possible but please forgive me if I left any off. These are people that donated money, time or supplies for camp that haven't already been mentioned. We appreciate everyone!
Joel Bragg Julie Busenlehner Rayburn Linda Dennis Alesia Snead Nick Snead Mary Lou Snead Alex Drake Summer Rhonda Drake John Franck's grandparents brought lots of snack foods Bro. Joel & Shannon Frederick Heather Johnson Nancy Passmore Rachel Wigginton Brandi Nahrgang Lonnie & Maria Kornegay Debbie Lyda Donna Crowder State Farm, Emily Clark - donated items for goody bags Beth Mabrey Denson Parker Birmingham Parent Magazine - donated bags, pencils & note pads for our goody bags GA's group from Loveless Park Baptist Church, parents and volunteers Women's on Missions from Lovelss Park Baptist Church Stacy OT, Mandy PT, Cheryl RT, and Donna Slayton RN from Children's Hospital Kim and Liz from Children's Harbor Maxim Healthcare Medical Resources Hug Center City Wholesale Town of Russellville Southern Home Co. Laura Franck (John's mom) who wouldn't want to be mentioned-sorry-called all families to invite them to camp! Children's Harbor employees and Jim Ray, Executive Director Our Vent Kids and Families: They all bring something unique and special to camp Corey Bishop Tye Daily John Franck Gavin Hermann Hannah Osborne Samantha Partridge Bailey Presley Alex Toxey Lindsay Grace Wilson
We truly missed some regulars Gabe Wise who was out with Strep throat this year, Cailee Rowlett and Kia Noble who were unable to attend. Trace Davis was sick again this year and unable to make it. Please remember these families in your prayers. Some of these children are too sick to attend camp or get sick at camp time and truly miss out. Others are just scared to venture out that long. Most of you just hear about these great events and how much fun we have but many of these children are very sick and need our prayers. All of these children are in our group because they require a ventilator to help them breathe. We don't think of them as sick, and believe me neither do they, because that is part of their daily lives. One of our volunteers kids told his mom later, "those kids are just like us". That is the best thing they could learn from this camp. They are kids just like all other kids but just with a little more equipment or a different way of doing things. Please keep all of these families in your prayers because, like all families, we all need prayers to keep us going! I am sure that I am leaving names out and I apologize but there were so many wonderful people involved that I know I am not including everyone. This camp was started by parents and is put together by parents, but we could not do it without the help of all of our volunteers. Children's Harbor is a wonderful facility that has allowed us and many other groups to use their campus for camp. The cabins are also rented to other groups when available upon request. They depend on contributions to be able to provide their services to us. Please check out their website listed below if you are interested in learning more about their services. They are a God send to us and we are very thankful for the services they provide. Kara Bishop, Director Vent Kids of Alabama |