Sister Spotlight: Brooks Burdette

Today, I strongly encourage any of our Delta Diaries readers to take a moment out of your day to read this post. Submitted by sophomore Brooks Burdette, it is written about her time this summer working at Camp Kemo, a summer camp for children and their siblings affected by childhood cancer. As St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is Tridelta's beloved philanthropy, this post holds a special place in all of our hearts. Brooks is truly a beautiful girl inside and out and I am lucky to call her my sister. I can tell she has created such an impact through this amazing and inspirational program, and will continue to do so in the future. 

This June, I was so privileged with the amazing opportunity to be a CIT (counselor in training) at Camp Kemo, which is a week long summer camp at Camp Kinard in Leesville, for patients with cancer, ages 5-18, and their siblings. When I first found out that I was selected to be one of the six new counselors at Camp Kemo, I never could have imagined how life changing the experience would be. Weeks prior to camp, I was so excited and counting down the days, yet nervous because I didn’t know exactly what to expect with it being my first year. Finally the day arrived that the five other CIT’s and I were off to Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina. All of the counselors got to camp a few days earlier than the campers to set up for the week to come, and to also have bonding and team building experiences. As we pulled up to camp, my butterflies were going crazy and I was more nervous than ever to meet all of the counselors. When I stepped out the car and met all of the counselors, we all received such an amazing welcoming into the group and an immediate feeling of acceptance and love radiated off of everyone there. From the get go, I felt comfortable and met so many kindhearted and completely genuine people. The counselors at Camp Kemo are indescribable, and everyone is such a big family (but literally, four couples met at camp kemo and are now married). I couldn’t wait to be a part of the Camp Kemo family.

The old camp director, Jeanne Schmidt, passed away tragically that year. So before all of the campers got there on Monday, they had a memorial campfire in honor of her. Even though I did not have the privilege of meeting her, hearing everyone’s stories and seeing pictures and videos of her, there was no doubt what an amazing person she was. She touched so many peoples’ lives and that was absolutely incredible to see. She had a glow about her in pictures that radiated the image of Christ.

After the meaningful night, Monday was finally here which meant all of the campers would be arriving! This year’s theme for the camp was County Fair, so the dining hall was decked out in fair decorations and farm animals! The beginning of the week, the group that I would be with was the “Peanuts”, which are ages 5 to 7, and the second part of the week I would switch to the “Heartbreakers”, which are ages 10 to 13. All of the counselors gathered outside to greet the new campers. As the police-escorted buses arrived the butterflies were back and we all cheered and waved as they pulled up. We grabbed all of their bags and led them to the cabins to begin what was going to be an incredible week!

Both of the groups that I worked with were the sweetest, and the most fun filled kids that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. They were all really outgoing and so much fun to be around. We did so many different activities, from swimming to arts and crafts, sing-a-longs, even an actual fair with rides and cotton candy! We went to Lake Murray and Pine Island for a day, had a camp wide dance, and other smaller dances with the older groups, a carnival with games and prizes, yoga, video games, and so much more! Some of these children had never experienced anything like this before, and it was such a blessing seeing their smiling faces trying new games and activities and meeting new friends who were facing similar adversities as they were. The activities were nothing compared to the bonds that I formed with the campers and counselors at Camp Kemo. If a five year old can get on the teacups at the fair three times in a row, you bet that I was right there next to him spinning faster and faster each time.

The CIT’s all kept a journal for the week, and one amazing moment that I wrote down was the first day of camp as it was a little girl named Zyann’s fifth birthday. She was diagnosed with AT/RT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor), which is a bunch of fancy words for a really rare brain tumor. We brought out a cake to her and all sang happy birthday with The Peanuts, and then later on got to sing to her with the whole entire camp. She had the sweetest smile and truly was a precious and amazing little girl. Unfortunately Zyann was really sick and only got to stay for one day, her birthday, and later lost her fight with cancer on July 7^th to be at home with the Lord and became a beautiful little angel. (For more on Zyann, visit http://www.preciousandpricelesskids.com/2013/04/princess-zyann-and-her-fight-with-atrt.html)

Every patient and child at Camp Kemo changed and touched my heart in so many ways that I didn’t know were possible. Too often do we take for granted what we have and envy others who have what we do not. Each and every one of these children was beautiful inside and out and they have humbled my heart to walk by faith and in God’s light. Every day is such a blessing, and there are so many children who are fighting every day for their lives. It was amazing to experience the children who were battling cancer, beat cancer, or had a brother or sister with cancer, act and do anything that a normal child who was 100 percent healthy could do. I can still hear and see their positive attitudes and contagious laughter. Closing campfire was an emotional experience, and saying bye to all of the children and counselors that I had made such close relationships with was definitely the hardest part. We sang “Lean on me” one last time and ended an amazing week. Camp Kemo truly changed my life and there’s no words that I could write or say to describe the impact that one week has left on me. “Cancer is a word, not a sentence."

If you are interested in learning more about Camp Kemo, check out this awesome video link provided by Brooks!