Page 15 - 2019 Fall CMTA Report

Camper #1: Elisheva Landau-Pope, 17, London, England
This summer I had the privilege of attending Camp Footprint. It was the

each of us is contained within a first time I’d met anyone with CMT aside from my family and it was the most
experiences and understanding created a safe, welcoming environment. I instantly
very particular space with very empowering, inspiring week of my life. Being surrounded by people with shared
clear perimeters: My body ends made friends and felt like I could be my most authentic self.
at the top of my head and at the I took part in activities and water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding
ends of my fingers and at the tips that I would have otherwise been reluctant to try out of fear of failing
of my toes. However, my experi- and judgment from peers. My biggest achievement was standing up on the
attempts, but the feeling of pride when I finally did it was well worth falling
ence with Camp Footprint has paddleboard. This took lots of encouragement from my counselor and several
challenged this idea.
Being at Camp Footprint gave me the opportunity to talk openly about my
Before Camp Footprint, I was off the board a few times.
alone as I walked through the air- disability with people who really understood. The smallest achievements were
port. My feet, my legs and my celebrated, and it felt like everyone there was rooting for each other. For the
normal but celebrated. I met people my age who were proud of their disability,
braces were solely mine. After camp first time in my life, I was in an environment where having CMT was not only
ended, though, I carried something something I had never personally felt, and they inspired me to stop seeing my
more as I walked in the other direc- disability as a limitation and start seeing it as an opportunity to meet new
tion down that same terminal. In people and educate others. I am so grateful for the opportunity and I can’t
each step I took down that ridicu- wait to return to camp for many years to come.
lously long hallway, I held my new
community. My sore muscles, the
bony arch of my feet, the brace on The Upper Girls
my leg and the awkward jolts of
my gait carried in them the stories
of each camper, counselor and staff
member I met at Camp Footprint.
And each step also held their
courage, pride and strength.
The change I felt was almost
mystical. My body—my story—
had expanded. My body is no
longer only mine: The stories of all
my new friends live in each step I
take and my story lives in them.
My pain is no longer only mine; it
is held by a community of people
who have felt it too. And, just as
profoundly, my joy is no longer
only mine. With each moment of
celebration, victory and hope felt
by a member of my CMT com-
munity, my soul rejoices. Camper #2: Paola Martinez, 16, San Diego, California
Because of Camp Footprint,
my body—a body in which I used go back. Camp Footprint changed me by helping me open up more and not be
After my first time at Camp Footprint in 2018, all I wanted to do was to
to feel so alone—holds in the ashamed of having CMT. It motivated me to change stuff back at home and to
deepest caverns of its bones some work harder at everything I do.
of the most beautiful, powerful, Attending Camp Footprint boosted my confidence with CMT: It inspired me
courageous and sacred stories I’ve to start swimming in a Paralympic setting and gave me the courage to speak
ever had the gift of knowing. Each in front of the whole camp, one of my biggest accomplishments this year. I am
step I take carries in it the hope CMT Awareness Month in September, a crucial month for the whole community.
also proud of the fact that I was able to take part in filming several videos for
and strength of the CMT com- The thing I will miss about camp is the people. Everyone was so nice,
munity. Now I never walk are truly out of this world!
anywhere alone. h Being part of this community is overwhelming. All the counselors and
welcoming, fun and inspiring. The friendships and connections made during camp
Maddie, 27, lives in Boston where she campers truly go above and beyond in everything they do. More than anyone,
teaches theology and psychology at Mount they understand what it’s like. Being disconnected from “normal life” and
Alvernia High School. enjoying the time we have together is priceless.