A Poem from Uki
Uki, middle row - far left, with her cabin at the 2021 virtual camp.
Virtual Merry Heart Camp
Giggles and humor
Fill the computer
As we sit in our room
With our friends all on Zoom
We’re all brought together
With one big tether
And that is our hearts
With all different parts
At a virtual
Merry Heart camp
First a chaotic camp song
— what could go wrong?!
Then time in our “cabins”
The girls always blabbin’
About future camp pranks
Kiera says “no thanks”
At a virtual
Merry Heart camp
Back in the main room -
Remember we’re on Zoom
Did you all hear,
I’m “Max is weird”
Yells the boy whose name
Is never the same
“Your camp names are cute,
Now Make sure you’re on mute!”
At a virtual
Merry Heart camp
A Heart Talk with Dr. Huang
And another silly song
Then we’re saying goodbye
But campers, don’t cry
Because we’ll see you next year
With much joy and cheer
At an IN-PERSON
Merry Heart camp
Mayme Marshall, MD: “Camp Is A Magical Place”
Mayme Marshall, MD, left, with the nursing staff at MHCC in 2019.
Camp is a magical place where kids are free from parents' expectations; they can be silly, brave, and adventurous. Becoming a camp doctor has always been a #careergoal for me! My dream came true Summer of 2019, when I was the camp doctor for Merry Heart Children's Camp!
As a physician, the best part of camp is watching our patients just be kids. I love hearing the incessant laughter, watching the triumph of pulling a fish out of the pond, and witnessing the camaraderie among campers and counselors. Witnessing as campers build relationships with peers who can relate to their own stories, or a camper who finds out their favorite counselor shares the same diagnosis as them, now that's powerful.
The community of Merry Heart Children's Camp (including campers, counselors, volunteers, medical and leadership teams) extends past the week of Summer camp; it creates an atmosphere of inclusivity, empowerment, and friendship.
I can't wait to attend in-person camp again in the future!
(Get your COVID vaccine when eligible, please! 🙂)
Rich Kelly: A Passion For Nature
Rich Kelly, center, leads a nature hike at camp in 2017.
I have had the pleasure of being involved with Merry Heart Children’s Camp since the beginning. I have assisted our camp director, Rob, and I lead sports and nature activities. I think it is a great organization – I see the kids having fun and enjoying the outdoors and that is a special feeling for me!
Our counselors, nurses and staff do a great job. Camp Howard, where our camp takes place each year, has been a good fit for us. COVID has caused disruptions for us but I am looking forward to the days when we will be back together.
- What activity do you like the most?
Sports-O-Rama - We’ve done this activity a couple times. The campers are divided into groups and rotate through three sports. It is good exercise and helps campers experience sports which they might not know.
- Aside from your activities, what do you love about the camp?
Nurses - I love the medical support we have at camp. The kids are closely monitored and well cared for. The medications process is organized and runs smoothly. I know this is a huge peace-of-mind for parents and is a big reason for the camp success.
- Why do you feel the activities you lead are important for the campers?
Nature Hikes - This activity provides an opportunity to experience nature and discover the outdoors. Some campers will find they have a passion for nature. This process is an important part of all kid’s development.
A Camp Story from Ben: "A Happy Camper"
Ben, right, hangs out at our 2019 camp with good buddy Alijah.
This year will be my 5th year going to camp and I always look forward to going and seeing old friends. I enjoy meeting new people, the activities, and being a happy camper!
Camp means I have somewhere to go where other people are the same as I am, a kid with a heart condition. Camp lets me know there are other kids with heart conditions out there living close to me. I don't know of anyone in my school with a heart condition, so going to camp makes me realize I'm not as different as I thought I was.
Camp is important to me because I enjoy having the opportunity to go and hang out with other heart kids! I'm grateful to Mary and Rob for starting Merry Heart Children's Camp for kids like me. I may have a heart condition, but I'm still a kid that likes to have fun!
Kayla Laird: "An Immediate Connection"
Kayla Laird has been a part of MHCC since day one. She was a camper the first year we held camp and then a counselor. She recently graduated from cosmetology school and is studying to be licensed by the state of Oregon.
Tanner, Kayla, and Adrian in 2019
Merry Heart Children's Camp is a place that allows you to be yourself and to meet other kids who have had similar experiences.
Back in 2014 when the camp first started, I was only 13 years old. At that time I had never met anyone with a heart condition, let alone someone with a zipper scar on their chest like mine.
It’s a place where you don’t have to worry about everyone going faster than you, because we're all going slow. I felt an immediate connection, filled with acceptance.
I’m proud to say that I’ve made friends at camp that, I believe, I will see and grow with for the rest of my life. We’ve connected through our shared experiences that not many other kids our age can relate to. For that, I am thankful that a camp like the Merry Heart Children’s Camp exists.
I could never truly tell you how happy this camp makes me. Comparing scars and stories with my fellow campers is the highlight of my summer. I would not trade these moments and memories for the world, or a new heart.
2021 T-Shirt Design!
Calling all Merry Heart Campers!
My name is Uki, I was a CIT at Merry Heart Children’s Camp’s virtual camp this year and I have a very important message for you!
Next year, we will be having a ✨NEW CAMP T-SHIRT✨! Here’s the fun part- you get to decide how they will look…
I know you all have some super awesome talents when it comes to drawing and painting, so I think you will be up to the challenge!
Between now and March 1st 2021, you can create a design for the t-shirt for next year’s camp. We will then choose one of the designs that will be on all the camp gear next summer.
Please focus your designs around camp activities, your friendships from camp and/or your fabulous hearts. We would also really appreciate if you could incorporate the name, ”Merry Heart Children’s Camp" and the year, 2021! If you want to, you could also include the slogan "Can't Heartly Wait!"
You can draw this design on a white 8x11 paper. (It doesn’t have to be rectangular, you could draw a square, circle or any other shape.) Then you or your parents can take a photo or scan the artwork and send it to Camp Director Rob McDonald: director@merryheartchildrenscamp.org. The photographs should be at least 15'' x 15” (1080 px by 1080 px) at 300 dpi. If you don’t know what that means, that’s okay, I think that is a very basic size and if you send us the design with plenty of time, we can work out any technical difficulties.
Once we receive all of the artwork, we will select one of the designs for next year’s logo.
Below is an example that I made for this year. It's just one idea, so remember to be as creative as you want and have fun!
Please feel free to contact Rob and me if you have any questions.
I'm SO excited to see what you all design!!! While we can only choose one for the T-shirt, we may be able to use other awesome entries for Instagram posts and other outlets.
Sincerely,
Uki Halloran-Steiner
Camp Stories: "Good Memories and a Full Heart"
Kyleen, center, with campers at the 2019 camp
I have been a counselor at Merry Heart Children's Camp for 6 years.
Before volunteering at Merry Heart I never talked about my heart condition and hid it from the world. In my time there I have not only grown to love and feel empowered by my congenital heart defect (CHD), but the members of camp and fellow volunteers have become like family.
The look on my campers' faces when they learn that I too, as their counselor, have CHD and have also had open heart surgery, is priceless. To be able to watch kids, who once, like me, did not know another soul with CHD, get to interact with others like them, truly warms my little CHD heart.
Every year is better than the last. Rob and Mary do an amazing job every year putting on such a spectacular camp. With a group of the most dedicated volunteers that I am so lucky to be apart of.
I truly look forward to camp every year. At this camp, not only are kids meeting other kids (and counselors) like them and learning about their heart, but they are becoming empowered in the process.
Every year I leave camp with good memories, a full heart, wide smile and watery eyes, counting down the days we all get to be together again.
Merry Heart will always be my second home, where I get to be apart of the most wonderful organization that lets kids just like me go to camp.
Kyleen "Hatter" Carter
Many Thanks
Dr. Mary Rice, President, and Rob McDonald, Executive/Camp Director posted this last week on Facebook:
Wow, our first summer camp for children with heart conditions. It takes a lot of effort to start a summer camp, from the board of directors, to our donors, our heart children, their families, and those individuals who took the time off to volunteer at camp.
We would like to give our thanks and gratitude to those camp volunteers who made it happen for these children:
Peggy, our camp programs director, and her team, Sheena, Lynn and Tammy. Sheena and Carmen for their morning activities. Lynn for our fun music evening and supporting Peggy.
A big “THANK YOU” to our camp counselors, Anika, Seng, Jen, Sara, Alli, David, Rich, Andy, and Max. They worked tirelessly in creating a welcoming atmosphere for our heart children.
Another big “THANK YOU” to our medical staff, our Randall Children’s Hospital nurses, Natalie (Rob's Angel), Stephanie, Ashlee, Selena, Katie, Matt and Sheila. Our Doernbecher Children’s Hospital nurses, Julie, Sara and Jean. To our physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant, Erin, Julie and Ali. To our physician guest speakers, Andy, Ashok and Mark.
A special thanks to Melody, our lifeguard, and Laurie, our archery instructor who created a fun activity during the afternoons at camp. Also to Eric for helping with activities.
To Rich for the creation of our nature walks, nature challenge and soccer skills with the additional support of Emily and Jane.
To Tim, our support person and photographer, who created masses and masses of photos and videos for us.
To Karen, Camp Howard Facilities Director, for teaching the kids to fish and to the Camp Howard Kitchen staff for creating some awesome meals and snacks.
To Project Linus Portland/Vancouver, Brooks Sports, Inc., Piccolo Mondo, and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Child Life for the gifts to help our kids feel special.
THANK YOU TO ALL AND WE HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR NEXT SUMMER’S CAMP.
THANK YOU!
Mary & Rob
Volunteer Profile: Anika Armstrong
"I've met like four Anikas," Anika Armstrong says, only slightly surprised she'd found others with her first name. "But I met one kid at school with a heart condition and I was blown away."
Anika was born with an atrial septal defect or ASD. "It was repaired three years ago. The repair was small, but it has made a huge difference," she says.
Sitting in the heart clinic waiting room recently, Anika spotted a tiny notice for Merry Heart Children's Camp and was immediately excited about volunteering. "I just think it's so great," she says.
Like fellow counselors Max and Dave, she's looking forward to her duties at the camp so she can visit with other heart patients and watch the campers develop relationships of their own. She wants the campers to know they're not alone and that there are other kids like them.
Anika just graduated from Battle Ground High School and the Clark County Skills Center Criminal Justice program. She's been an Explorer with the Clark County Sheriff's Department for two years and plans to start college in the spring.
Anika answers a few more questions below:
What's the coolest thing you've ever done?
The coolest thing I have ever done would definitely be when I went to Georgia, North and South Carolina last summer. I went with eight other students from Washington state to propose laws and debate at the YMCA Youth Conference On National Affairs (CONA). The delegates made me proud to be an American and confident in our future as students and as a country. It was an amazing life changing experience that I will never forget.
Are you an outdoorsy person? What do you like the most about being in the woods in Oregon?
I love hiking or just walking through the woods. My favorite is when I randomly find a water hole to swim in.
Do you have a motto, a mantra that you keep in the back of your mind?
“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Nelson Mandela
Who or what do you respect the most?
I respect the people who are everyday heroes. Doctors, cops, really anyone who does something good for others on a daily basis, people who work to make a brighter tomorrow.
Did you have a chance to go to a camp as a kid?
Yes, I went to a summer horse camp a few times. I remember stepping out of my comfort zone and meeting new people and trying new fun things.