LOCALadk Magazine

46 Winter 2020 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk And it changed his and the other doctors' perspectives. "As a doctor focused on pediatric critical care, I was used to see- ing kids in the ICU," says Walsh. "Seeing the same kids here was eye opening." Walsh remembers what Charley Wood would say about homesickness. "He talked about how kids here would leave and have campsickness,' missing their camp friends and ever ything that makes Double H so special." Walsh's own daughters missed it too. "Emma, Lizzie, and Kate saw how these kids deal with these illnesses ever y day, and how ever yone has things that they're going through." All three are still involved, with Kate currently ser ving as camp director. Dr. Walsh, now director of the Siena/Albany Med Joint Acceptance Program, has volunteered ever y summer for 27 out of the last 28 years. Walsh was also instrumental in bringing Camp Inspiration to life at Double H, the week-long family program for kids, 6-21, who are BIPAP (bilevel positive air way pressure) or ventilator dependent. Always held during the first week of the summer program, this special offering requires intensive staffing to allow these campers to swim, tr y the high ropes course, and participate in other regular activities. "These kids don't get outdoors much because of all of the sensitive medical equipment that they need, and we tr y to keep them outside even when it's raining," Walsh says. "Each family typ- ically comes up in two minivans, one for the family, and the other for all of the equipment that the camper needs to stay alive —basically a traveling ICU." Camp Inspiration is staffed by a dedicated group of respi- rator y therapists, nurses, and physicians who provide care, comfort, and a much-needed break to parents who are often round-the-clock caregivers to these medically fragile chil- dren. The 13 campers in 2019 were supported by 82 medi- cal personnel, who provided almost 10,000 volunteer hours during that week. "I was talking to one mom, and she said that this was the first night in seven years that she was able to sleep without a ventilator alarm going off," Walsh recalls. "Another parent said this was his vacation. I see these fami- lies in the hospital and then send them home. But we have to remember how ever y day, they make tremendous sacrifices." When you speak of inspiration, it's hard not to bring up Gabe Donovan, diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder, neurofibromatosis (NF1), at six months old. NF1 causes tu- mors to grow along ner ves in the skin, brain, and other parts of the body, and Gabe has undergone many rounds of chemo- therapy and dealt with many broken bones. Wise, funny, and well-spoken beyond his years, he's in high school at Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, doing ver y well in his course- work and considering colleges as he thinks about a career as a lawyer. "In the beginning, we didn't discuss the future be- cause we just didn't know; entering high school was a major milestone," says Gabe's mom, Maureen O' Brien, president and CEO of New York State Industries for the Disabled. Re- calling that Gabe, as the youngest of four boys, who all com- peted in sports, she talks about watching him "crush it" in the winter ski program. While at camp, he made a new friend with the same condition, and it helped to know someone go- ing through the same thing he was. And although Michael passed a few years ago and it was difficult for all, Gabe used his own Make-a-Wish to restore the barn area, honoring his friend who had loved that part of camp. In August of 2019, he started a fundraiser for another teen he met while touring a nursing facility. " Without camp, I don't think I'd be the per- son I am today," he says. The Adaptive Winter Sports Program at Double H, which began in 1998, houses the only ski resort in the countr y that's reser ved 100% of the time for kids with special needs. Offer- ing both snowboarding and downhill skiing, it includes two trails, a double chair lift and a conveyer (Magic Carpet), and is staffed by over 250 volunteers, including Professional Ski

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