-or- Exhausting and inspiring
I am currently on my Pediatrics rotation and just got home from a grueling, exhausting, and inspiring week.
I had the opportunity to spend a week of my rotation serving as a counselor at Camp Kaleidoscope. (Check the provided link for more info) Briefly, it is a camp that Duke offers for chronically ill children who would not be deemed healthy enough to attend regular summer camps. But because of the access to Duke staff, we can pull it off. And pull it off we did.
We left Sunday morning and kept those kids running until we got back today. Swimming, fishing, taking care of camp, playing games, crafts, activities, every minute was packed with activities. We were at Camp Graham, a Girl Scout camp, and were there with Girl Scout groups, participating in many of the same activities as them. For many of the kids this was the first time they had even spent time away from home (with the exception of extended hospital stays). It was challenging, but it was great. I missed my family, but was truly inspired by the attitudes of these kids. Their joy at the activities was at times unrestrained, and they reminded me just how pure childhood can be.
Sure, we had problems. Both with medical issues and with behavioral ones. But I came home with 40 new best friends. And you can always use more friends. Especially little ones.