Diabetes at Camp Bearskin Part VI: What about the siblings?

Today, all of this week, we have tried to give siblings the ability to know that they too are not the only ones, that there are other siblings like them that have to deal with this, and may also not like what it has done to the family. For this one little boy, he made his fears and his feelings for a few moments apparently clear, and have given the family something else to work on. I can only hope that he sees that he is not alone, and that it will be OK. Can a 7-year old really understand?

Tonight was closing campfire. Just 5 nights ago we had our opening, and so much has changed.

I almost didn't recognize the families as the same ones that came through that gate just a few days ago. They were comfortable. They were wearing tye-dyed t-shirts and cut-off shorts. They were chatting with counselors. They were enjoying the nature. They had dirty feet. They were relaxed. They were smiling. A little piece of something lost has been regained.

Closing campfire is a process with clear traditions and expectations. Kids groups got up and performed skits that they had either written or practiced during the week. The second act of the "Fairy Tale with a Diabetes Twist" skit was performed, and as the sun started to set, the staff performed the ever-popular Diabetelmania, multiple Beatle's songs with a diabetes twist. It's been performed every family camp closing campfire for the past few years by the staff and our medical director, and accompanied by the guitar.

(To the tune of the Beatle's "Yesterday") "Insulin, everybody needs some insulin, there are different ways to get it in oh every one needs insulin. Normally, pancreases make it all me, now I take it hypodermically, oh everyone needs insulin "...

We held up our pumps, waving them back and forth, along with syringes, in a unified motion. Families who were returnees mouthed the words and took pictures, while families who were new sat on the campfire logs as we sang on stage, mouths agape.

(To the tune of "Hello, Hello") "You say yes, I say no, you say check, I say no, no, no. You say I'm high and I say I'm low. Hello, hello, I don't know why you say I'm high, I say I'm low".

As we rounded the end of Diabetelmania to the tune of Sergeant Pepper "we're Bearskin Meadow's Diabetic Band, we hope you have enjoyed the show", we each held up a letter to spell "Make Insulin Not War". Families cheer and jumped off the benches to their feet. I am happy to say that that was one of the most rousing renditions of Diabetelmania ever.

As the sky darkened, the pace of campfire changed. As is tradition for closing campfire we ended the program by allowing families to thank staff and other families and staff to thank families by the light of the campfire. When our campfire host asked if anyone had anything to say there was a long awkward pause.