by Mary Wilson
Many Kansas City-area children spend their school year
looking forward to summer vacation. And, for some, that means heading off to
camp. Summer camp means friends, swimming and adventure. For one Kansas City
girl, summer camp means overcoming obstacles, pushing herself past her limits
and achieving things she never thought possible.
Emily Roots has attended Camp No Limits in Missouri for
several years in a row. The No Limits Foundation provides a camp for children
with limb loss or limb differences and their families in ten locations across
the country. Last month, Roots, along with her parents, traveled to Potosi,
Missouri to experience what she says is her favorite part of summer.
Kim Bergman, Clinic Manager for Hanger Clinic and a
first-time volunteer at Camp No Limits Missouri this year, met and worked with
Roots and her family during their stay at camp. Hanger Clinic is a sponsoring
partner of Camp No Limits and provides a scholarship program for area children
to attend that may not be able to afford it. Bergman, along with a prosthetist
from her office, volunteered their time at the Missouri camp when they heard
that helpers were needed.
“It was absolutely amazing,” said Bergman. “I’ve heard stories
about how cool the camps were. The word ‘magic’ kept coming up. It really is,
though. It is a magical experience.”
In talking with the Roots family, Bergman discovered that
Camp No Limits is not all that known in the Kansas City-area. This year, there
were only three children from the metro at camp.
“It really surprised me, especially with Children’s Mercy
here in Kansas City, that there weren’t more families from this area,” said
Bergman. “There is such a need to get the word out because it is such a great
program. The number of families this could serve here at home is hard to even
imagine.”
Hanger Clinic works with a number of families to provide prosthetic
and orthotic patient care services, and provided the funds for one of the three
Kansas City families to attend Camp No Limits. While there, campers are able to
experience therapeutic programs with specialized professionals, including
physical and occupational therapists, prosthetists and adult amputee role
models.
Camp No Limits is the
only camp for young people with limb loss and their families, creating a
network of support for all the campers. Each camp is unique, but there are
generally five programs offered each day. All activities incorporate family
members as well, with specific group sessions for siblings and parents, when
appropriate, to address the needs of families living with individuals with limb
loss.
“These kids and these families see each other once a year,”
said Bergman. “You would think that they live next door to each other by how
close they are. There are some very emotional moments for everyone, and it is a
family. I thought, ‘gosh, they only see each other one time a year. We have to
change that.’”
Bergman got to work planning an event before school begins
in the fall. She began to organize a Camp No Limits Kansas City weekend for
Missouri families.
Emily Roots, according to Bergman and her family, is one of
the biggest Kansas City Royals’ fans. She loves them so much, in fact, that she
had a Royals prosthetic arm made for her, and last year was featured in Kansas
City media with her request to have her arm signed by some of the players on
the team, especially Eric Hosmer. While her wish didn’t come true, she did meet
George Brett, who signed her arm.
In a few weeks, Camp No Limits Missouri families will get
together and attend the Royals game on Friday, July 21. The weekend activities
will continue into Saturday, where the children and their families will meet a
congenital amputee who works for Hallmark as a graphic designer.
“She’s got an amazing job and makes it happen despite her
differences,” said Bergman.
Roots, on Friday at the Royals game, will attend batting
practice before the game and meet the players, take photos and finally receive
the autographs she’s been wanting. However, because she is growing, her current
arm no longer fits, so she will be sporting her new Royals prosthesis at the
game that day.
“Whatever we can do to put a smile on the faces of these
kids, we’re going to try and do,” said Bergman. “They are amazing kids with
amazing capabilities, and we want to celebrate them in whatever ways we can.”
Camp No Limits, a division of the No Limits Foundation,
relies on support from volunteers and donors. More information can be found at
nolimitsfoundation.org. To support efforts in Kansas City, contact Kim Bergman
at 913-397-7600 or email her at kbergman@hanger.com.
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