Volunteer Pilots Enable Teen with Rare Disease to Attend Camp
Living with Neurofibromatosis-1
Amit has a rare neurological condition called Neurofibromatosis-1, or NF-1. His primary diagnosis of NF-1 is linked to other health issues. These issues range from a speech-language disorder to low muscle tone. This cluster of conditions negatively impacts his quality of life.
Better Chance with Brainy Camps
Like many teens his age, Amit wanted to go to summer camp. However, a traditional summer camp setting would not be able to accommodate his medical needs. Not wanting to deny their son an experience that would improve his quality of life, his parents dove into research.
During their search for a summer camp, his parents found an organization called Brainy Camps. Brainy Camps is a nonprofit that manages summer camps for children and teens with various neurological and mental conditions. Many of the counselors and specialists have the same medical issues that the campers do, providing a unique type of encouragement that many environments cannot offer.
Approved for Camp New Friends
One of the Brainy Camps, Camp New Friends, is specifically designed to help children and teens with NF-1. Amit’s parents knew he would be in good hands at Camp New Friends, and have an amazing summer experience while he was there. They asked Amit’s doctor for approval, and the doctor did so almost immediately.
Amit was excited to attend Camp New Friends. He knew this was the best chance to have the best summer.
From Summer Storms...
Unfortunately for Amit, two large obstacles stood between him and a fun-filled time at Camp New Friends.
The first obstacle was the cost. His parents could barely afford the camp fees. They managed to get enough money together to pay for the fees. Even when that cleared, the second obstacle still remained – distance. Camp New Friends is in Charlottesville, Virginia – more than 560 miles away from Amit’s home in Jacksonville, Florida. His parents couldn’t afford a round-trip plane ticket, let alone gas for a long car trip.
It seemed like a summer storm had destroyed Amit’s opportunity. How would he get to Camp New Friends?
...To Summer Sunshine
That was when Amit’s parents found out about Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic, the volunteer pilot program of Mercy Medical Angels. The volunteer pilots could take Amit to and from Camp New Friends for free.
When Amit heard he would be traveling in a small plane, his fear almost stopped the flight. He had recently read a book called Hatchet, which begins with a small plane crashing in the wilderness. But the pilots reassured Amit the whole time. They also pointed out the sights below, and even let Amit listen in on the conversations with air traffic control. This made Amit’s fear disappear.
Amit now looks forward to future travels with Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic. Whether in the high-flying skies in a small plane, or in the tranquil mountains of Camp New Friends, summer sunshine lit the way to a better quality of life.
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