Camp Barlin? Camp Joston?

The word is out!

The Joslin Diabetes Center and The Barton Center for Education have announced that Barton will take over the management of the Joslin Camp.

The Clinic will still own the camp, but the administration, fundraising, camper recruitment, etc will now be handled by the folks at BCDE.

This is actually a bit of 'coming full circle'. In the early days of diabetes camping, when Barton and Joslin were pioneering the concept of a 'hospital in the woods', the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation handled the management of both camps, with the Joslin Clinic contributing the medical supervision.

It was always a bit odd that, in this modern day, the Barton and Joslin camps remained separate, single-sex entities. It was also, I think, inefficient. This merger represents a great opportunity to streamline purchasing, hiring, sharing of information, and fundraising efforts to benefit the campers of both organizations.

Though the single-sex aspect seems quaint to many, I always liked the fact that the campers and staff could relax and be boys and girls without much of the distraction of the opposite sex. (Yes, I know I married a Joslin boy, so obviously there was some distraction going on, but it was nice to limit that to dance nights and the rare occasion when you could schedule your time off at the same time as your crush.) I have no idea what this merger means for that aspect of diabetes camping in Massachusetts, but I hope that some of the autonomy is preserved.

Beyond that, I think there are a ton of 'pros' to this partnership. Aside from the aforementioned efficiencies, I think each camp will gain from the other. I look forward to seeing how this will all work out. Good luck to all involved!

(we do need a re-write of "We're from Camp Barton, and our tribe's the best tribe, we fight the Camp Joslin, they're seven feet tall!)

Appeal

Many of you have heard me and others in the O.C. rave about our diabetes camp experiences. Those of us who attended (or staffed, or volunteered) sing the praises of the camping experience. We savor the comeraderie, the education (cleverly disguised as sports and games and goofy fun), and the empowerment that comes from being away from home for two weeks or a whole summer.

And most of all, we cherish the friendships we made at diabetes camp, as we monitored and injected and snacked on nabs with our peers. We met kids and teens just like us, and the bond is often unbreakable.

I, personally, have an address book full of friends with non-functioning islet cells. They are friends who I can call when something d-related goes wrong, friends with whom I can fall easily into conversation even after a long time apart, and friends who have stood by me through life's major events, good and bad.

But there is a darker side to these connections. Actually, it is not so much dark as it is reality. When camp alumni gather, we often skirt the topic, or (at the very least) discuss it with a heavy heart. With such a wide circle of friends with diabetes, I know several people who have battled complications and even lost their life to diabetes. I joined the diabetes world just after the advent of home blood glucose monitoring. Many of my camp friends were diagnosed with diabetes well before me, and they lived many years with clumsier tools. My own husband had diabetes nearly 20 years before he owned a meter. Some I've known have simply not had the good luck to avoid complications. I see them struggle with blood sugars that won't behave, a challenge made worse when complications creep in.

Last November, a beloved camp alumnus passed away at the age of 50. Unexpectedly, while undergoing treatment for kidney issues, she was taken from her family and friends by diabetes. Our camp circle is overshadowed by the loss.

Clearly, the camp connection is not just about being upbeat and hopeful, it is about joining together to face the sometimes dark reality of diabetes. Her good friends have formed a team and are planning to participate in the upcoming Barton St. Patrick's Road Race in March. Pledges in her honor are being collected, with the money intended for extra fun for the kids who attend camp this summer. Because, even though she died much too young, we all recognize that she fought a tremendous fight and was armed, in part, with the love and support of her camp friends.

It is an excellent way to honor her memory and her camp connections. There is no better way to mark the incredible bond of friendship that forms among children with diabetes then to enrich their camp experience. To ensure that they learn to take care of their diabetes while playing a fierce game of field hockey, or planning a silly talent show skit. To allow them to lie on wooden bunks, whispering about the things that dominate a young girl's life, in a log cabin that is stocked with meters and glucose tabs and peanut butter nabs, overlooking a charming little pond.

Please consider joining me in a donation to The Barton Center in honor of Cathy Curran. If you donate, please indicate "Race/Walk: Team Gumby" on your check or online donation. Contact information for camp is available here: http://www.bartoncenter.org