Introducing!

It’s Chowdah Time!

A HUGE role at Camp (that sometimes goes unpublicized in our appreciation) is Camp Nurse. These soldiers in their field are not only AMAZING at what they do on a daily basis, but continually bring back to mind the reason Camp exists, and why us other staff are there: the campers.  

Our Resident Oncology Camp Head Nurse is Chowdah, who is coming back for her 4^th year. Though camp is only a week long excursion, she is pretty much exuding camp all year round. As a nurse at Radys Children’s Hospital, Chowdah spends much time “helping to recruit as many campers as possible from the hospital to make the spirit of camp even stronger” as well as talking about CR4TS, and reliving memories with returning campers.

“First of all, I really feel like over the past 4 years I've become part of a family, a camp family :) Working in the hospital with a lot of these kids who are suffering can be overwhelming and it is easy to get some emotional burn out. Camp really inspires me to keep positive while at work and it’s so awesome to see the kids I've known for years and seen so sick acting like "normal kids". Seeing the smile on each and every one of the campers really makes a difference in my life and the kind of nurse I am. When the kids come back for check-ups or chemo after camp, it’s amazing to me how much camp really has made a positive difference in their lives.”  And right there is the reason CR4TS exists. What a beautiful thing!

After months of planning with the leadership staff, Chowdah takes the Saturday before Camp to unwind and relax. “I don’t do anything all day, and then get a good night’s rest,” which is a good way to prep for what is always a week long whirlwind of fun and little sleep.

When at Camp, Chowdah has a few favs that remain with her throughout the year. She is a big fan of the camp fires. “I love the chants and songs, and always love when people rock a snuggie.”  She is also a fan of Patty Cakes FryLock costume (really, who wasn’t), and loves bringing her banana costume to camp “to spice things up a little.” Another great memory for her is seeing the wheelchair bound campers make it to the top of the wall (“it was very inspirational”) as well as listening to one of the campers singing Colors of the Wind (“it made me tear up a little!”).

And as she slept to enter the world of Camp, Chowdah also does some sleeping to exit it. “I come home from camp, sleep all day, eat a good healthy meal, and jump right back into real life the next day.”  Oh the joys of real life!  And of course, the countdown to next year begins; Happy CR4TSing!


Camp Makes a Difference...