Program helps send cancer patients to camp

The mother of three recently attended a Reaching Out to Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K.) send off for her daughter Caitlyn, 9, who will spend the next week at camp with 21 other kids.

The program, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS), enables children who have fought or have cancer a chance at normalcy.

"These send-offs are tough and the first year there were a lot of tears,"said Baginski, of Naples. "You can always tell who the new parents are because they are just bawling their eyes out.after saying goodbye."

Many of the campers will be away from their parents for the first time since being diagnosed.

"I don't think there is anything like it. These children, once they are diagnosed, are very attached to their parents and the parents are so afraid of something happening," said Jackie Langenburg, a pediatric oncology registered nurse who will provide campers with medical attention throughout the week. "It's a great camp where they get to do normal camp things that everybody else does but have medical backup there in case they need it."

Having that assurance helps parents detach from their children and take a week to think about something else or care for other siblings.

"It's not as bad by the third year ... I'm pretty much a pro now," said Baginski who didn't cry this year because her daughter has attended camp twice since being diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 6. The tumor is in remission.

As part of the send off, children got together at the society's south Fort Myers headquarters for a morning with "American Heroes" - the theme of this year's camp. Local police officers and firefighters greeted and posed for pictures as the children, ages 7 to 16, boarded a bus for the five hour drive to camp at Boggy Creek.

"This makes them feel normal. They've gone through a lot with these diseases and this is one less thing they have to worry about," said Maureen Godin, the ACS area patient services representative, adding that children will see kids like themselves. "They might see children with no hair, no legs but they all have something in common other than them all having to bout with cancer."

The ACS pays $1,500 for each camper using money raised by the group.

"These kids wouldn't otherwise be able to go," said Stacie Margaritas, certified child life specialist, who will care for the kids during camp. "It's hard for the parents. A lot of the reason we do the send off is to help the families where the kids are excited to go and the parents are nervous."

Baginski is one of the parents who was looking forward to the extra time.

"This lets them get loose and have fun which is such a relief and I'll get to care for her other siblings," she said. "And it's a good time to clean rooms."