urchase an engraved brick or

stone paver and add a perma-

nent message of caring, hope or

inspiration to our Brick Walkway

at Camp Sunshine House.

Located adjacent to our play-

ground, the walkway and plaza

are an important, special and

lasting part of our landscaping.

Pay tribute to someone whose

life has been touched by Camp

Sunshine, while supporting our

year-round programs. Complete

this order form and mail with

your check (payable to Camp

Sunshine) to: Camp Sunshine,

1850 Clairmont Road, Decatur,

GA 30033.

P

SHOW FRIENDS OR

LOVED ONES

HOW MUCH YOU CARE –

EVERY DAY

4 x 8 Brick Paver

12 x 12 Natural Stone Paverwith Camp Sunshine Logo

8 x 8 Brick Paver

12 x 12 Natural Stone Paver

Growing up the only girl among three brothers, Cathy Loiblhas always felt a special closeness to her siblings. Thebond served the family well when her younger brother Matt was diagnosed eight years ago at age 10 with anosteosarcoma. “We pulled together more than ever – wehad to,” Cathy recalled.

Cathy, who was 13 at the time, remembers the familybeing pulled into an unfamiliar world of chemotherapy,surgical procedures and hospital stays. She also remem-bers learning about Camp Sunshine during one of Matt’shospitalizations. Cathy was the first to participate,attending Sibling Camp. “I came back and told my familywe have to go to Family Camp. I was young, but I just knewthis was an amazing place. After that very first SiblingCamp, I was hooked,” she said. “Camp Sunshine was theplace for me – and for us.”

The family took Cathy’s advice and attended FamilyCamp together, loved it, and returned again and again.Matt participated in Summer Camp and then never missed ayear. Cathy attended Sibling Camp for four years: “I looked

forward to that weekend all year long.” She enjoyed thecamp activities and appreciated learning about what herbrother was facing. Even more, Sibling Camp was a chancefor Cathy simply to be herself. “Everyone there is goingthrough the same thing. At Camp Sunshine, there is anunderstanding that if you want to talk about it, fine. Andif you don’t, that’s fine, too,” she said.

Summer camp volunteers must be 21 years old, butwhen the Camp Sunshine House opened in 2003, Cathy,then 18, became a faithful office volunteer, helping withadministrative tasks during summer months and schoolbreaks. When school keeps Cathy from her volunteerpost, her mother Carol steps in. This summer Cathy’s wish came true. Now 21, she completed all the necessarytraining and became a volunteer at Teen Camp, working as a counselor for the girls in Cabin 8. “Camp wasn’t whatI expected – it was so much more,” she said. “Hearingstories about camp and actually being there are twocompletely different things. When you see a kid who hadchemo on Wednesday and is climbing the ropes course on Friday...it’s incredible. It’s hard to put into words, butthis is my favorite place in the world.”

Her experiences also have influenced her college and career paths. Cathy is in her senior year at GeorgiaCollege and State University in Milledgeville finishing anursing degree and considering a career in pediatricnursing. Cancer-free since 1999, Matt is a sophomore at Georgia Tech. “Camp Sunshine has touched my familyin so many ways, and that’s why I volunteer,” Cathy said. “I want to give back at least a smidgeon of what they have given me.” W

C A M P S U N S H I N E P O S T C A R D S

1850 Clairmont RoadDecatur,GA 30033

404-325-7979www.mycampsunshine.com

NON PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDATLANTA, GA

PERMIT # 1156®

8

Camp Sunshine Postcards is published three times annually

for friends and supporters ofCamp Sunshine.

Sibling Closeness Sets Cathy on Volunteer Path

V O L U N T E E R S P O T L I G H T

POSTCARDSC A M P S U N S H I N E

FALL 2006Volume 3 • Number 3

A Publication for Families and Friends of Camp Sunshine –Programs for Children with Cancer

Patricia’s Story Now afaithful counselor and pediatrichematology-oncology nurse,this former camper sees herlife unfolding in new ways everyday. Page 3

Summer Camp Revisited Check out the photos,messages and artwork, and relive the Sunshine of avery special Summer Camp.Page 4-5

A Path Filled withSunshine Sibling closenessinfluences Cathy Loibl’scollege, career and volun-teer paths. Page 8

ith both parents being physicians, 9-year-oldFlorence and her brother Charlie, age 7, are not

unfamiliar with the world of doctors, nurses and medicine.Their mother Margaret, a pediatrician,and father Richard, an obstetrician-gynecologist, serve a broad and largelyrural community near Hartwell, Georgia.Occasionally on Saturday mornings,while their parents complete theirhospital rounds, the children wait in thenurses’ station-absorbing all that’sgoing on around them.

Still nothing could prepare thefamily for the turn life took in Februaryof 2006. Florence, an aspiring artist andoutgoing student at the AthensMontessori School, was not feeling welland missed a couple of days of school.Her initial symptoms were a fever andpersistent cough. A finger stick revealedsevere anemia and necessitated moretests. Within hours, Florence was diag-nosed with acute myeloid leukemia(AML), a type of cancer in which thebone marrow makes a large number ofabnormal cells. In AML, these cells crowd out the normalcells, inhibiting the production of platelets, red cells andwhite cells.

At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s (CHOA’s) ScottishRite campus, Florence began intensive treatment. Each

treatment cycle included 10 days of high-dose chemofollowed by an expected 30-day hospital stay. After threefull cycles, Florence underwent a bone marrow transplant

at CHOA’s Egleston campus on July 25thusing bone marrow harvested fromCharlie, her sibling match. Three weekspost-transplant, Florence said she wasfeeling “awesome” and was preparing toreturn home ahead of schedule.

From the day of diagnosis, thefamily has pulled together to aggressivelyconfront this formidable foe, even usingthe language of super warriors to stayfocused on the task at hand. Florence’smoniker is Princess Warrior and herbrother’s is Super-Charlie. “You do whatyou need to do,” said Richard. “In ourcase, it’s mobilize the troops; pack yoursabers; sharpen your swords; we’re goingto war!”

Shoring up the family’s fight are thepeople and programs of Camp Sunshine.As physicians, Richard and Margaret knewof Camp Sunshine, but it was the ChildLife specialists at CHOA who insisted the

family give it a try. Charlie and Richard were first. Theyattended Family Camp last April, while Margaret stayedwith Florence who was hospitalized at the time. Richardadmits he went “begrudgingly,” not knowing exactly what

W

Camp Sunshine Covenant: Here for Families All Year Long

Continued on Page 4

“

Florence’s dad Richardand brother Charlie atFamily Camp. To all the volunteers

at Camp Sunshine: You are awesome!It is an inspiration to see people do thingsright. How come thereisn’t a Nobel Prize forpeople who do good?”

– From Florence’s Caring Bridge Website

Even before this outgoing 9-year-old could go to summercamp, her father and brother attended Family Camp.Charlie called it “the best weekend of my life,” and his dadfound it to be “tremendously important.” We are thrilledthat Florence could join us for Summer Camp and wish forher a complete recovery.

Our Volunteer Spotlight is on Cathy Loibl, who is awonderful spokesperson for Sibling Camp. Cathy firstexperienced Camp Sunshine when her younger brotherMatt was diagnosed eight years ago. Today both Matt andCathy are active college students; Cathy shares how thefamily’s Camp Sunshine experiences are influencing hervolunteer, college and career paths. Likewise, our “Then &Now” profile is of popular counselor Patricia, whose fightagainst Hodgkin’s disease 11 years ago inspired her collegeand career decisions. As much as she loves Summer Camp(returning for 12 consecutive years), Patricia feels equallypassionate about Family Camp in fall and spring. She urgesevery family to attend.

This issue would not be complete without includingseveral “postcards” from Summer Camp (see centerpages). More than 360 children with cancer attended one of our two sessions held June 18-July 1 at Camp Twin Lakes.We extend our deepest thanks to the 220 volunteers (forty of whom are childhood cancer survivors) who helped make the camp experience unforgettable.Thanks to the generosity of our ever-growing number of supporters, our professional staff will continue to create special opportunities for our families – for everyseason of the year.

– Sally Hale, Executive Director

With memories of Summer Camp so wonderfully fresh inour minds, how can the calendar be telling us it’s back-to-school time? It is hard to believe that two months havepassed since our 24th Annual Summer Camp. Just as theafterglow continues long after the last summer camperleaves Camp Twin Lakes, the programs of Camp Sunshinecarry on throughout the year. Consider these highlightsjust since Summer Camp ended: • Eight teens completed an Outward Bound course in the

Colorado Rocky Mountains; • Twenty-five young adults attended our two-day cancer

survivors’ workshop;• Twenty-one families attended Spa Sydell Nights in July

and August;• Thirty-eight people attended a preschool outing at

Cagle’s Dairy Farm in Canton;• On July 30, 247 people enjoyed our annual “Hit a Home

Run Day” at Turner Field;• Fifty-one people from north Georgia attended the Rome

Braves game on July 31; and • Families continue to attend Family Night and preschool

Music Class held twice each month at Camp SunshineHouse.

At Camp Sunshine, we are here year-round for children with cancer and their families, and the fall promises to be one of our busiest seasons yet!

In this issue, you’ll notice a recurring theme – theimportant role Camp Sunshine programs can play in thelives of the entire family facing childhood cancer. We aregrateful to Florence, her parents and her brother Charliefor sharing their camp experiences. Florence was diag-nosed with AML in February and is recovering from a bonemarrow transplant (with Charlie as her sibling match).

C A M P S U N S H I N E P O S T C A R D S2

DEAR CAMP SUNSHINE FRIENDS,

OUR MISSION STATEMENT Camp Sunshine enriches the lives of childrenwith cancer and their families through recre-ational, educational and support programsallowing them to share similar experiences andto participate in activities that promote normalchildhood development as they cope with thechallenges of childhood cancer.

Honor the VIPs on your holiday shopping list with a gift that truly matters – a donation in their name to Camp Sunshine. An honorarium not only pays tribute to a specialperson in your life, it also helps support our year-round programs. Honorariums can be made securely on-line atwww.mycampsunshine.com or use the enclosed envelope and mail your gift. All gifts are gratefully received andacknowledged according to your wishes. Make a difference in the life of a child with cancer.Give the gift of sunshine.W

Honor Friends, Clients, Employees, Loved Ones

C A M P S U N S H I N E P O S T C A R D S 3

scared me, though my parents were verygood about holding it together for me. Isaw the impact on my sisters, too (bothyounger than Patricia). It was tough onthem.”

The week also brought a positivelylife-changing event: “While I was in thehospital, we heard about Camp Sunshine.Summer Camp was starting that Saturday,and I thought there is no way I’m going.But my mother is the one who told me togo. I am so thankful that she was so insis-tent.” At camp, Patricia made friends whomshe counts among her closest friends tothis day. She also found confidence,

support and the chance to beherself. “You’re a teenager withcancer, and you’re trying to graspon to whatever is normal that’sleft in your life,” she said. “AtCamp Sunshine, you can do that.You can just be a normal kid.”

Patricia’s treatment protocolof chemotherapy and radiationstarted in June of 1995 and endedin November of that year. On topof her medical challenges, shealso had transferred to a new

school at the start of her sophomore year.Despite the odds, she finished the year ontime and graduated from the GreaterAtlanta Christian Academy with her classin 1998.

Patricia attended the University ofGeorgia, earning a degree in child andfamily development. Always interested inmedicine, she had at one time consideredbecoming a physician. With one degree inhand, she decided to pursue a second

bachelor’s degree, this one in nursing,graduating from Emory University in 2005.Today Patricia is a pediatric hematology-oncology nurse at the AFLAC Cancer Centerat Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta,Egleston. While she appreciates the “fullcircle” analogy, she believes her careerpath has only just begun. She is enrolled ina dual master degree program at Emory innursing and public health, and is eager tosee where her dreams will lead.

Patricia has been involved with CampSunshine for 12 years – first as a camper,then as a counselor-in-training and for the past several years as a counselor.Additionally, she volunteers at a clinic indowntown Atlanta, is involved with herchurch, participates in recreational leaguesports and spent part of this summer on a mission trip to Peru. While Summer Campholds a special place in her heart, FamilyCamp weekends are her passion.“Somehow it always come up at FamilyCamp that I am a cancer survivor,” She said.“The parents will say really? You can justsee the way their faces light up. It givesthem hope.”

She also believes Family Camp canprovide many tools to help familiesthrough an overwhelmingly challengingtime. “A lot of families come togetherwhen their child has cancer, but unfortu-nately a lot of families do fall apart,”Patricia said. “Family Camp is for theentire family to be together and do thingstogether. It is about the entire family unit, and I truly wish that every familywould go.” W

Eleven years ago, when Patricia was 15 anda freshman in high school, she was diag-nosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a cancerousdisorder characterized by steady enlarge-ment of the lymph glands, often first inthe neck. “I was sitting in class and I real-ized I had a big, swollen lump on my neck,”Patricia recalled. “My teacher probablythought I just wanted to get out of class.”Patricia thought she might have sustaineda sports injury, and the clinic nurse gaveher ice for the swelling. But a hasty trip tothe pediatrician revealed a much greaterconcern. “My doctor said it could beHodgkin’s disease. I had no clue what that

was. When I got home and looked it up in a Mayo Clinic book and it talked aboutmalignancy and cancer, I thought no way,it couldn’t be,” she said.

It was a Tuesday in June when Patriciafound the lump. On Friday she had abiopsy which confirmed the diagnosis. OnMonday she started chemotherapy. Sheremembers the difficulties of that firstweek. “I had a rough first round of chemo,”she said. “Seeing my dad upset is what

Patricia’s StoryT H E N & N O W

From childhood cancer survivor to pediatric hematology-oncology nurse, it would be easy to characterizePatricia’s life as coming full circle. But that would betoo simple, because Patricia, a former Camp Sunshinecamper and now a faithful volunteer counselor, sees theshape of her life unfolding in new and interesting waysevery single day.

C A M P S U N S H I N E P O S T C A R D S4

Camp Sunshine

gives kids with

cancer a feeling

that they are

normal and just

like everybody else.”

– Raissa, age 13

“

“

to expect or how a camp weekend could strengthen thefamily’s reserves. He came away completely convinced of the benefits. “I had a great time. For me, it was anopportunity to talk with adults who are going throughwhat we are going through and connect with a wholecommunity of people whose lives are affected by cancer,”Richard said. Charlie summed it up in refreshing 7-year-old style: “It was the best weekend ever-even if I didn’tcatch a fish.”

Florence was discharged from the hospital the weekbefore Summer Camp began, and thus was able to experi-ence the Sunshine for herself. “It was lots of fun,” shesaid. Being with friends, making pottery and earning akarate award were among the highlights of her first CampSunshine stay. “The carnival, the fishing, the horsebackriding-I loved everything,” she said. “I’ll be back nextyear and the next year and the next year until I’m oldenough to be a counselor, and then I’ll be back again!”

“Florence had a fantastic time,” Margaret said. “Shenever got homesick. Part way through the week, we heardfrom the nurses that Florence was having the time of herlife. As parents, we found that so reassuring.”

She also was touched by a staffer’s kind words whenMargaret arrived to pick up her daughter at week’s end:“She thanked me for letting Florence attend SummerCamp. I got so choked up, because here I was so gratefulthat my child had a chance to go to a place like CampSunshine.” She encourages other families, especiallythose who are newly diagnosed, to seek out CampSunshine programs. “I was completely confident in the staff and their dedication to these kids,” she said. “I wouldn’t hesitate to send my child. Camp Sunshine is terrific.”

In the short time between camp and Florence’s bonemarrow transplant, the family traveled to Aspen,Colorado for an unforgettable outdoor vacation.According to her father, Florence is “a very social childwho wears her baldness like a badge” and sometimesstarts up conversations with others who look as if they’velost their hair to chemotherapy. “She never meets astranger – not even on vacation,” Richard said.

For now the family is taking recovery one day at atime. They plan to participate in as many Camp Sunshineprograms as possible, including Spa Sydell Night andFamily Night offered each month at Camp Sunshine Houseas well as Family Camp in October (see calendar pages).“As we have the opportunities, Camp Sunshine programswill be a priority in our family,” Margaret said.W

Camp Sunshine Covenant, continuedfrom page 1

Summe

I love horseback riding and going down the

slide at the pool. Without Camp Sunshine, I

think I would be so lonely. At camp you don’t

have to be sad or feel bad that you don’t have

hair or you’re in a wheelchair. Nobody is

making fun of you, or laughing or staring at

you. Everybody is happy here, and we always

have somebody to talk to.” – Aissati, age 15

C A M P S U N S H I N E P O S T C A R D S 5

I have been coming to camp for

seven years. I love seeing all my

friends, and everyone knows a

little bit about what you’ve been

through. The experience is like no

other. Nobody stares when you’re

missing your hair.” – Erin, age 14

“

If it were not for Camp

Sunshine supporters, I

would not meet over a

hundred other people who

have the same thing I have –

cancer. Because of you, I

know I’m not alone with my

cancer.” – Prince, age 17

“

r Camp 2006

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

C A M P S U N S H I N E P O S T C A R D S

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Family Night

Family Night

Spa Sydell Night

Family Night inCentral Georgia

ColumbusFamily Outing

Planning forCollege

Rememberingthe SunshineFamily Night

Teen Group

Teen Group

Young AdultGroup

Back-to-SchoolProgram

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 6

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

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29 30 31

Family Night

Family Night

FAMILY NIGHT1st and 3rd Tuesday each month5:30-6:30 PM Dinner6:30-7:30 PM Group Meeting Call to RSVPMeet and share dinner with others in similar situations. Then partici-pate in professionally facilitatedgroups to discuss pertinent topics.Parents meet together; childrenmeet with other children and childcare is provided for childrenunder age 5.

TEEN GROUP2nd and 4th Thursday each month5:30-6:30 PM Dinner6:30-7:30 PM ProgramCall to RSVPFor 13- to 18-year-olds. Meet, hangout and get support from otherteens who also have or had cancer.For those who are on treatment orwere diagnosed as a teen. Dinner isfollowed by discussion or activity.

YOUNG ADULT GROUP3rd Thursday each month5:30-6:30 PM Dinner6:30-7:30 PM ProgramCall to RSVPFor 18- to 23-year-olds who arecurrently on treatment. Dinner isfollowed by discussion or educa-tional topic of interest.

ONGOING PROGRAMS For any House program, we ask that you RSVP to 404-325-7979

6

Teen Group

Teen GroupBTFC and CampSunshine TeenNight

Remember the SunshineWeekend

Labor Day Holiday (Office Closed)

PreschoolProgram – Apple OrchardTeen Lock-In

WildAdventures in Valdosta

HD Marine andWendy’s FishingTournament

Family Camp

Family Camp

4th Annual Chris Young GolfTournament

Fall Festival

Rememberingthe SunshineFamily Night

Back to SchoolProgram

Spa Sydell Night

Family Night inCentral Georgia

Young AdultGroup

2nd Monday each month6:00-8:00 PMCome have dinner and be pamperedby the talented professionals fromSpa Sydell.

SPA SYDELL NIGHTAT CAMP SUNSHINE

2nd and 4th Thursday each month10:30 AM-12:30 PMJoin us for lunch, music class and a fun activity. For campers birth - 6 years old and their preschool agesiblings.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC CLASS

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

C A M P S U N S H I N E P O S T C A R D S

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 6

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 6

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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31

February 3-4, 2007Teen Winter Dance and Lock-In

February 11Camp Sundshine Day atBig Apple Circus

March 2007Teen Retreat

April 13-15, 2007Savannah Family Camp

April 2007Family Camp

April 2007Family Camp

SAVE THESE DATESFor any House program, we ask that you RSVP to 404-325-7979

Family Night

Family Night

Teen Group

Teen Group

Young AdultGroup

7

Office Closed

Young AdultGroup

Family NightThanksgivingDinner

Thanksgiving (Office Closed)

Program for Teens and Young Adults

We are beginning to launch thefirst phase of the SunshinePals Program. This program will connect teens and youngadult surviviors with interestednewly diagnosed children andteens. If you are between 13-25 years old and would beinterested in serving as amentor in this program, pleasecontact Missi at 404-325-7979for an application. The firsttraining will be held this fall.Over time, the program willexpand to include parents andsiblings.

SUNSHINE PALS

Spa Sydell Night

Family Night inCentral Georgia

Spa Sydell Night

Family Night inCentral Georgia

Teen RetreatCTL Spin forKids

Rememberingthe SunshineFamily Night

Rememberingthe SunshineFamily Night

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

This program provides supportand counseling for children andteens regarding illness-relatedissues. Call Missi Hicks, CCLS,LPC, RPT, at 404-325-7979 fordetails.

NorthwestGeorgia FamilyProgram

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