When I was in high school I had the opportunity to work at Camp Simcha for two summers. That experience was my first introduction to what Chai Lifeline does, and really my first glimpse into the Chai Lifeline community. Those summers were meaningful, but I do not think that they really left me with a complete appreciation for the breadth and importance of Chai Lifeline. I saw that Camp Simcha offered, what seemed to me then to be, an over-the-top, unbelievably fun and incredible two weeks. As a teenager, I thought perhaps some of what I was seeing was even possibly bordering on excessive. As a waitress, placing camper orders for Chinese food for breakfast, I couldn’t help but question whether this was all a little bit too much.
Back then, I could not have imagined that I would one day have a child with a cancer diagnosis. It never crossed my mind that my family might one day be the beneficiary of Chai Lifeine’s generosity. As a Chai Lifeline parent, I can assure you that everything that Chai Lifeline provides to its families is thoughtful, extremely helpful, comforting and given in a sensitive way. Over the 2+ years that my daughter was in treatment, Chai Lifeline provided us with countless meals, helped us solve all sorts of problems, and supported us when there were problems with no easy solutions. Chai Lifeline constantly invited us to special events for families, for parents and for patients. There were so many opportunities to connect to other families who were going through something similar- more than we could possibly attend. Our other children were able to attend the I-Shine after school program, which was a complete lifesaver for our family during the early months of treatment. There was no member of our family who did not feel the comforting presence of this incredible organization during those difficult years. Chai Lifeline was really with us every step of the way- sending messages of support, thoughtful gifts, and just always being available to help with whatever we needed.
Though our daughter did not attend Camp Simcha, I can now truly appreciate how incredibly amazing it is that this camp exists. At the beginning of treatment when we asked the oncologists about camp, we were told that no children in active treatment go to camp. Period. This means these kids really never get a break from the relentless doctor’s appointments, treatments, social isolation, and just general lousy feelings associated with treatment. And their caregivers do not get a break either. To think that there is a place where these children can safely go and just enjoy weeks of unadulterated fun with other kids, and that their parents can have a couple of weeks to focus their energies on all of the other things they have been overlooking with cancer looming at the forefront is not excessive or over-the-top at all. It’s pure magic.
Cancer treatment is a marathon. A really really rough one. Ever since our family’s experience, running NYC with Team Lifeline has been a dream of mine. We will forever be indebted to the incredible Chai Lifeline, an organization that we hope no one else should ever need, but we are also so grateful that it exists. I feel privileged to represent such an incredible organization, which saw my family through the very worst of times. Please consider supporting my run and in doing so, help Chai Lifeline assist other families facing the worst, until G-d willing no more families ever have to hear the words “your child has cancer.”