From an intensive care unit in San Antonio, 20-year-old Rebecca Taylor smiled and talked to more than 50 children who attentively listened to her via a video conference call.
The kids were at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp in North San Antonio, at “Camp Hope,” a summer camp Taylor started for those with pediatric pancreatitis.
At 12, Taylor started Rebecca’s Wish, a nonprofit organization that supports children with pancreatitis, using her Make-A-Wish Foundation wish. With the National Pancreas Foundation, Taylor also created Camp Hope, a free, overnight camp experience to support children with specific medical needs.
The children traveled to San Antonio from at least 20 states this week. At the four-night, five-day camp, groups of children from 8 to 18 enjoyed unique activities on the 102-acre campus, like petting and riding therapeutic horses; zip lining; swimming, and meaningful activities, like writing down something negative and throwing it away.
Volunteer nurses and doctors specialized in pediatric pancreatitis care made sure everyone was healthy, and administered each child’s medical routine. Medicines were stored in a mini urgent care inside organized boxes on shelves.
Camp Hope is just one of the many programs Morgan’s Wonderland Camp has hosted since its opening last year.
The creators of Morgan’s Wonderland theme park, which opened in 2010, opened the inclusive camp property last year. In 2022, 28 partner camps took place on the campgrounds, creating spaces for people living with physical and developmental disabilities to enjoy summer-camp-type activities.
In the cafeteria, Taylor’s mother Christyn Taylor hosted an activity for the children. Taylor’s unexpected hospitalization meant she couldn’t join the activities in person, but she supported the camp virtually.
“We spent a whole year planning this, and these children look up to her. But at the same time, I also know that they understand more than anyone what it’s like to be in the hospital,” Christyn Taylor said. “When they miss a big activity, I’m hoping they can look at that and think, ‘Well, Rebecca had to miss her big Camp Hope. So I can get through this.’”
The first Camp Hope was held last summer in Ohio, welcoming about 30 campers. Taylor joined them and participated in as many activities as she could with them. The program moved to the Morgan’s Wonderland Camp space this year.
Children who require constant medical attention miss out on activities “healthy” children take for granted, Christyn Taylor said, making it hard to make friends. This can make them bitter, she said, but Camp Hope is a reminder of their abilities and provides experiences they otherwise wouldn’t participate in, she said.
“We want the children to know, you can make friends on your own, you can be in charge of your [medicine] on your own, you can live a grateful independent life,” Christyn Taylor said. “They just have had to live with so much medical help for so long, that it’s hard for them to break from that cycle.”
The estimated $125,000 cost of the camp this year was funded by donors. The camp is completely free for families, including transportation costs to get to San Antonio, Christyn Taylor said. Camp Hope has doubled in size compared to last year and has more room to grow.
Registration for the camp next summer opens in January and will be posted to the Rebecca’s Wish website.
After traveling from Austin, 11-year-old Avery Winkelman attended the camp with her 8-year-old sister Emmy Winkelman. Both girls have pediatric pancreatitis and hadn’t had the chance to attend a summer camp until this week.
“There really hasn’t been an opportunity for them to go to camp. Both of them experience bouts of pain here and there,” said the girls’ mother, Katie Winkelman, who volunteered as a camp nurse for the week. “Camp hasn’t been an option for them, especially in regards to Avery and her surgery.”
Avery underwent surgery in May to have her pancreas removed.
Her only goal at the time was to recover the best she could go to summer camp for the first time ever at Camp Hope.
Between horse riding, zip lining, swimming and meeting friends, Avery said her favorite part of camp was not having to explain her disease to other people she met, because they’re going through the same thing.
Emmy said her favorite part was making being able to make memories for the summer after her sister’s surgery.
“Sometimes it’s hard because there are a lot of things you have to go through,” she said. “And when your sibling is in the hospital, it’s not only hard for them.”
Among the volunteers was Dr. Naveen Mittal, the chief of pediatric gastroenterology at UT Health San Antonio, who was Taylor’s first doctor at University Health. In addition to taking care of patients with pancreatitis, Mittal also treats children with liver problems at the University Health Transplant Institute.
“When [children with pediatric pancreatitis] come here, we break that barrier of provider-to-patient and we can see them and celebrate their abilities,” Mittal said. “They can do zip line, swim, sing, dance and have very high cognitive discussions. In some way, they heal psychologically, spiritually, emotionally.”
