Page 6 - CMTeen_Volume1_Issue4

Camp Changed While I was excited to go, my Camp
Me Forever
By Julia Beron*
ONE OF MY BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH
CMT is that I am the first one ever in my family
to have it. Since only one in 2,500 people have
this disorder, it’s difficult to find someone with
CMT to talk to. I don't feel like many people
understand the full picture of living with CMT.
That has always been a huge issue for me.
When my dad told me that there was going
to be a CMT sleepaway camp for kids with
Charcot-Marie-Tooth, I instantly said "no way."
I had never been away from home before and the
idea scared me. However, after some convincing
from the amazing camp director, Jonah Berger,
I decided to give it a shot. I mean going to camp
with a bunch of kids who know exactly what I go
through every day? It felt like a dream. Although
I was excited, I was also dreading it, not ready to
leave my home for a week in the woods.
The night before I left finally came, and I was
begging my parents to let me stay home. But I
packed my suitcase with the hopes of leaving
this camp a new person. The one thing that kept
me calm was that I knew that no one would
judge me because we all have CMT. That
morning, waking up and going to the airport,
I was so excited to be given this opportunity.
{6}
Footprint experience began with many, many
tears. I wanted more than anything to go home
to my family and friends. I must have cried 10
times in less than 24 hours. I begged my parents
to let me leave even a day early. They told me,
"You need to stay. This is a great experience
for you."
On the second day, I did the unthinkable:
I went canoeing! Now for a "normal" teenager,
it might seem odd that I'd be so excited about
that, but I never would've thought I could do
it. That night, I did a night hike with no flash-
lights! That was the beauty of this camp. There
was absolutely no excuse not to do the activities
because everyone had CMT and we all did every-
thing together. We cheered each other on every
step of the way. That's what this family is all
about: support. The rest of the week flew by and
we all grew extremely close. We truly became a
family. On the last day, I texted my dad and said
"I'm going to cry when I leave these people, this
place." And I did just that.
Now I have tons of people who I'm close with
who know 100 percent what I deal with every
day. I can't imagine not having them in my life.
This camp changed me forever, in the greatest
ways. I can't express how grateful I am that I was
given this opportunity. Countdown is on for the
second year of Camp Footprint! Till August 14,
2017.
*Julia, 16, is from New Jersey.