Care Leads to Community

Before last year, I had never been to summer camp. I grew up in Guatemala and was born with spina bifida. It’s a birth defect that causes your spinal cord not to form correctly. I had to have five surgeries. We came to the United States for a better life and so I could get better care for my condition. A Children’s National nurse told me about Camp Super Bifida at Camp Accomplish. 

I was nervous about going but made friends quickly and loved the activities, especially archery, horseback riding and swimming. The other campers were fun to be around and it was easy to talk to them because they grew up with similar struggles. Camp staff were very encouraging. Next year, I’d like to become a counselor-in-training so I can help younger kids. If I can be positive and give them the knowledge that they will be OK, it will give them hope for the future.

“Camp Accomplish has been like planting a seed that helped grow Fernando’s confidence and allowed him to feel embraced and part of a community.”  —Vanessa, Fernando’s mom