They ran, they played, they raced model boats with paper sails and used their breath as the wind.
It was a normal three-day camp for a group of children whose lives are usually not quite so normal. Children with asthma may not be able to take part in group sports or other strenuous activities, but for the children at Camp Wheeze Away, it was a glimpse at how much fun life can be.
The camp was last Thursday through Saturday at the Owensboro Medical Health System HealthPark.
Camp Wheeze Away, a free program for local children with asthma, is aimed at being educational and fun for children. By educating the children in fun, interactive ways, the camp staff hopes to help the children live better lives despite the condition.
"That's the thing, having fun and not being hindered and knowing that it's OK to have fun," said Eunice Taylor, one of the volunteers at Camp Wheeze Away for the past two years. "That's what this is all about, learning to be a child, and even though you have this disease, this condition, you can have fun."
Asthma is an upper respiratory condition where the airway can become inflamed, swell and constrict in response to a trigger like smoke, stress or exercise. It can be potentially dangerous because asthma attacks can leave a person unable to breathe. Because it has so many triggers, children who suffer from the condition and their families have to be cautious to ensure that attacks either don't happen or can be treated quickly.
"It's the most common chronic illness of childhood," said Dr. Lee Clore, a local allergist with Allergy & Asthma Specialists, who directs the camp.
Clore said that despite this being a common and difficult disease, there's plenty that can be done. That's why programs like Camp Wheeze Away, which has chapters all over the country, exist.
"Even though asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood, you can do whatever activity you want to within reason as long as you take your medicine and monitor your disease," Clore said.
Clore said the camp also focuses on teaching the children what causes asthma, how to control it and especially on showing them that they're not alone in dealing with the condition. That part, he said, is especially important since children need to feel empowered to fight the condition.
"This sort of awakening, that 'I'm not by myself in this battle' is a touching point of the camp," Clore said. "I think that makes a huge, huge difference."
The camp also is meant to help children with asthma open up and learn more about their condition where they might be embarrassed to do so in other places, said Melissa Alstott, a registered nurse and clinical educator for the camp.
"They know it's a safe place to ask that kind of stuff," Alstott said.
The fact that the camp is also free to the children, who range in age from 6 to 10 years old, is also a big deal. Without outside support, especially volunteers, the program couldn't go forward.
"The money's there, the drug companies have supported it. It makes it easy," said Angi Wahl, a health promotion specialist and registered nurse, who works as one of the coordinators.
This is the ninth year that Camp Wheeze Away was held here in Owensboro, and it's likely to see many more years, Clore said.
"In a couple or three days, you can impact these kids in a powerful manner," Clore said, explaining that parents also have to be a part of the education. "Camps like this and sessions like that help alleviate fears and answer questions.
"We can't cure your asthma," Clore said. "But we can keep you going." To see more of the Messenger-Inquirer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.messenger-inquirer.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008 Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.