Camp del Corazon [ About Us ]
Field Of Dreams
by Lisa Knight
When asked how and why Camp del Corazon started, Kevin tells a special story about his 6-year-old patient who had undergone many heart procedures. Although his life threatening arrhythmia was essentially corrected, he was still unable to let his friends see him without his shirt on. His deepest scars were not on his chest, but in his thoughts about his body image.
Children with heart disease often carry their emotional scars quietly, not believing that anyone could ever understand ... not Mom or Dad, and certainly not friends at school or in the neighborhood. Kevin was profoundly moved by this revelation. He had worked very hard to repair that youngster's heart problem but was unable to remove the emotional scars. That is just one example of the many, children who come to Camp Del Corazon, an ideal place for those with heart disease to find special friends who are alike in ever so many ways.
When I think back to the beginning 9 years ago and ask myself why I wanted to start Camp del Corazon, I realize that the true story of that young man and all the children I know with similar problems, reminds me of the fine film, "Field of Dreams".
Briefly, for those of you who have not yet seen the movie, Kevin Costner stars as a struggling young farmer about to lose his farm, one day while working in the fields, he hears voices saying, "build it and they will come". Not knowing whose voices he hears or who will come, or why, he cuts down his ripening rows of corn and builds a baseball diamond. Of course his family and friends ... just about everyone he knows, thinks he has gone crazy! But one day, all the greatest baseball players who ever lived show up in his field to play.
Camp del Corazon began in much the same way. Kevin and I had no clue - not an inkling of how to start, let alone run a residential camp. Where will it be? Who will be able to come? Where will the money come from? Were we even thinking rationally? After all, Kevin and I both have full-time positions running the Pediatric Electrophysiology Service at the UCLA Medical Center.
But something deep, deep inside told us that if we built a special, safe place where children with heart disease could play together, they would come! We put out "feelers" ... and one by one, the answers to the tough questions appeared! Catalina Island Camps leased us the campsite, stating simply, "We were just talking about supporting a "special needs camp". Donations started to arrive and one by one, friends announced that they would love to help; and then came!
Yes, we really built a camp - and one by one, children with heart disease who had never ever been away from their families or even met another kid like themselves came to camp.
I knew without question that we had started a wonderful healing, growing process for these children when one day at camp during carnival festivities, one wonderful eleven year old camper painted his very large, prominent surgical scars into warrior stripes across his chest - a literal change of heart from shame about his condition to pride in his own strength.
From the very beginning, Camp del Corazon has been a magical place. . . it beats in the heart of everyone who becomes a part of our dream. Our field is on a beautiful island 26 miles out to sea and represents all of what we do and who we are - our fund raising events, camp planning activities, staff meetings, etc. It's the core of Camp Del Corazon, where ever and whenever we come together with staff, campers, parents, and our faithful supporters to build and play, that's where you will find our "field of dreams".
And our dream? Simply to make Camp del Corazon available to anyone who might benefit - that includes campers, adults with heart disease, camp counselors, moms, dads, nurses, doctors, and donors.
Everyone here at Camp del Corazon sends our heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful people who have helped us in ever so many ways with financial contributions, arranging fund raisers, and always supporting us. To my friends who were there at the start of the dream and did not think me crazy when I told them about the voices. Thank you for believing. To everyone who has been a part of Camp Del Corazon I can only say, you are all the greatest players on our field of dreams… come true!
Lisa Knight RN
Executive Director, Co-Founder Camp Del Corazon, Inc
Message from Lisa & Kevin
Children with heart disease are often limited in their physical activities, are frequently absent from school and require special medications and treatments.
For all these reasons they also feel separated from their peers and unable to be part of "regular" life. They are separated from children like themselves because they are few and far between.
The only time they have seen another child with a heart problem is while sitting in the doctor’s office. ( We all know what that feels like) When you look at their lives, there is a lot of things that the children feel they cannot do. That is, not because they are physically limited, but because of the perception they have about themselves and the experiences they have been though.
As Medical professionals involved in the care of children, we are often witness to the effects of heart disease on the health and well being of children. Merely treating heart disease is not enough; we must strive in every way to make these children feel normal, and good about themselves.
Lisa & Kevin
Thoughts on Camp del Corazon
by Dr. Kevin Shannon
Although we have nearly tripled in size since our first year, becoming a non-profit corporation (with a board of directors, bylaws and even a corporate seal) and even started to look like a real Operation, Camp Del Corazon Inc. is still a program about children, for the children, and about teaching children with heart disease that they are not alone, and that strength derives from overcoming obstacles. It is not about raising money (not that this is not important), nor is it about getting publicity, influencing people or even expansion. With this in mind, I have a very modest goal for Camp del Corazon Inc.: "To make this opportunity available to anyone who might benefit from it". This includes the doctors, nurses, camp staff, and adults with congenital heart disease who have Volunteered as well as the children who attend, for we all walk away with a better understanding of who we are, what we do, and the importance of understanding how others see the world. I have spent nearly a month thinking about this question, and I must confess this is the same answer I gave the first time I was asked. I think it makes more sense to me now than it did then.
In conclusion I would like to thank all of those persons who have helped make Camp del Corazon Inc. what it is today, and hope that they share my vision for the future.
Kevin