Camp Cartwheel

With all the nasty that cancer brings there is also amazing blessings that come. But don't for one minute think..."They are lucky, cancer just keeps giving." Having cancer is not lucky even with all the camps, donations and make-a-wish trips! I would give it all back to never hear those words and see my sweet girl as sick as she has been. It's been a hard road to travel. It's scary, and filled with so much anxiety, but I don't normally blog about that. I blog about the good. But I need to be aware that some outsiders looking in might not see the hurt, pain and scary times in our lives. Of the blessings that come from this nasty disease one of them, is camp.

 They each had to pick a camp name, and Presley picked "Ellie"

Presley has been looking forward to going to Nevada's cancer camp for a few months! Camp Cartwheel is an outdoor camp designed to help children with caner and their siblings overcome the physical, mental and emotional obstacles posed by childhood cancer. This camp provides relief from the stress of hospitals and the trauma of fighting disease. For the kids it is a time to have fun, and be a kid again. Nothing makes a cancer mom's heart more full than to see our kids, being kids.

I was in Southern California for Day 1 and Day 2 of camp. Daddy got her packed and camelbak filled. Took her to the bus at 7:30 am and waved goodbye to her on that great big tour bus! For Camp Cartwheel, Crew is not quite old enough. I'm glad daddy was there for the first two days, hes brave. It's hard for me to send that little girl off. I want to just protect her from any pain, she has already felt so much at such a young age. Daddy picked her up at 5:30, with a big smile and a tutu on! Crafts are some of her favorite! Crafts, games and so much! It was killing me not to be there taking pictures and observing but she had a great time! Day 3 and 4, I dropped her off and picked her up. She made a friendship with Love (Juju)! Such a sweet friendship. So thankful they had each other!

It was so emotional each morning. We would sign them in, and then they would sing their camp songs until it was time to get on the bus. The last song was always this:

 I am a mountain,

I am a tall tree, oh

I am a swift wind

Sweeping the country

I am a river,

Down in the valley, oh

I am a vision

And I can see clearly

If anybody asks you who I am, 

just stand up tall, look 'em in the face and say

I'm that star up in the sky

I'm that mountain peak up high

Hey I made it, hmm

I'm the worlds greatest

I'm that little bit of hope

When my back's against the ropes

I can feel it, hmm

I'm the worlds greatest

I am a giant

I am an Eagle oh

I am a lion

Down in the jungle

I am a marching band

I am the people oh

I am a helping hand

I am a hero

If anybody asks you who I am, 

just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say

I'm that star up in the sky

I'm that mountain peak up high

Hey I made it, hmm

I'm the worlds greatest

I'm that little bit of hope

When my back's against the ropes

I can feel it, hmm

I'm the worlds greatest

In the ring of life,

I'll reign in love (I will reign)

And the world will notice a king (oh, yeah)

When all is darkness,

I'll shine a light (shine a light)

And the mirrors of sucesss reflect in me (Me)

I'm that star up in the sky

I'm that mountain peak up high

Hey I made it

I'm the worlds greatest

I'm that little bit of hope

When my back's against the ropes

I can feel it

I'm the worlds greatest

I'm that star up in the sky

I'm that mountain peak up high

Hey I made it

I'm the worlds greatest

I'm that little bit of hope

When my back's against the ropes

I can feel it

I'm the worlds greatest

I'm that star up in the sky

I'm that mountain peak up high

Hey I made it

I'm the worlds greatest

I'm that little bit of hope

When my back's against the ropes

I can feel it

I'm the worlds greatest

There is nothing more powerful than a room full of kids fighting for their lives. You don't see color, or race you only feel hope! "I'm that little bit of hope, Hey, I made it! I'm the world's greatest". So emotional! I will never be able to thank those endless volunteers who made this camp possible! Forever thankful for these experiences! Thank you!

The Sunday following camp was a family picnic at the park! Enjoy the pictures of that day! We got to play, visit, eat bbq and sign camp yearbooks! And Crew...he spent the day on the giant water bounce house!! He was on the large one...too cute to watch!