Written for St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church newsletter

Cassie’s experience of Attending Ability camp

I was asked to describe the experience of attending Ability camp. Cassie’s sponsorship to attend this program came from St John’s church council, the Entire Congregation of St John’s and Irmgard Fruck Cassie’s beloved Oma. I am thrilled to have the wonderful opportunity to share the unique experience of Ability camp with Cassie’s church family in our church newsletter. Also to allow the congregation to see where the contributions were used and how they benefited a young girl with cerebral palsy. At first glance the total cost of the camp seemed high at 5, 300 dollars (not including costs of living away from home for five weeks). After experiencing all the camp has to offer I do not feel the costs are that high although almost every child at the camp had to be sponsored financially to allow the children to go. Here is a short description of the experience.
Ability camp is not a fancy camp but it truly a place where miracles happen and faith grows. I spent five weeks with Cassie in a full program where 12 families of children with cerebral palsy lived in close quarters sharing three bathrooms and one kitchen! The friendships happen easily as children bond, parents share experiences and therapists work tirelessly assisting children to meet their goals. I personally went through a powerful healing process in relation to my daughter’s brain injury as I watched her interact and grow over the five weeks. I connected with some very special children and their families a very valuable experience. To tell you a little bit about the program Cassie had a full day of passive exercises, lying program, standing program, sitting program and individual program. The Hungarian approach to physiotherapy involves very little equipment. The rooms had floor space and carpet. The only other things in the room were stools, chairs, ladders and wood. The toys used were wooden dowels and beanbags. The Hungarian Conductors (Physiotherapists) were terrific with the children and so knowledgeable about cerebral palsy. Cassie’s class had four children 12 year old Jessie from Edmonton AB, 10 year old Dre from Michigan, 9 year old Samuel from California and 8 year old Cassie from Hamilton On. All four children are ambulatory but have muscle weakness and mobility issues related to their brain injuries. Cassie fit in well right away and did not mind being the only girl in her class. Each day there was a lot of laughter; jokes and the amazing thing about children are they motivate each other to improve. Cassie was extremely tired at the end of the day. She had stiffness and sore muscles but always maintained her smile!
The real miracle within the walls of Ability camp comes in the friendships made, the chance for parents and siblings to talk about their experiences of raising a child with a disability. The people we met understand the unique experience of rehabilitation and seeing smiles on a child’s face when they accomplish something they never thought they could. All of Cassie’s goals were met and Ability camp met all our expectations.
A quick summary of what Cassie gained was her overall body strength improved; she is weight bearing better on her left leg. Cassie improved in advanced walking tasks, she is using her left hand much more and better in every situation, she can raise her left arm higher than before, her grasping improved in her left hand, her left foot and hand became much more flexible. The program can continue to be done in the child’s own home. The child learns to be independent in areas of dressing, bathing and toileting and the independence makes the child’s self esteem skyrocket. Thank you to our church family for your financial contribution and sponsoring our girl for this valuable therapy.
God Bless
Kathy Fruck