Girls Camp

starting with me and going right.
me. Jolyn Walker.Kendra Pocock. Emily Thomas. Stephanie Berrett.


The blood clots happened right after school- in June. Girls Camp was usually August. This year my parents had said I wouldn't be able to go. With my health condition and being far away from hospitals and society if something were to happen....
I was really sad about this. I'm not a big camper, but the chance to have sleepovers 5 days in a row, play, swim, candy candy candy, and party non-stop, with; of course, the gospel intermixed at times- what more can a girl ask for?

Well as it came closer to girls camp- my bad health was stable as "bad health" it wasn't getting any better- but it also wasn't getting any worse. Here this is my journal Entry:

Friday July 31,1998

well this whole week nothing exciting happened until today! we, my mom aubrey brock andy and connor all went to a doctors appt. Actually it was only for me but they tagged a long. I hate going to the docs. They always make me nervous! They checked my blood pressure, drew a bunch of blood and I had to pee in a cup. The doc just checked on me to see how I was doing, then my mom mentioned her going to camp. He said why isn't she going, then she should go! So I think I'm going to camp!

My parents decided I could go.

A couple of Sunday's later the YW presented me with a basket ...Here I'll let my journal take it away again...
8/4/1998
The Young Women's gave me a "we are sorry you are not going to camp basket!" it was full of goodies. But they knew that I could go to camp so they changed it to we are glad you are going! I felt kind of bad accepting it. But it felt good know that they do actually care.

Camp was fun...did all the normal stuff...play, eat candy, swim, party non-stop. This was the time I was bloated the most. I had tons and tons of water weight at this time. I was on really high doses of predinose right then. (see, they slowly tapered off with the prednisone over the years). I felt really inadequate next to my pretty fellow tenters- Jo, Kendra, Emily, Steph, Christie, Even my YCL leaders I felt jealous because they were at least normal-even if I didn't think they were the prettiest. Anyway, lots of water weight- so much that Kendra went to get a zit on my nose (gross I know) and it blew up like a balloon (kind of like a blister)...it was the weirdest thing. We all laughed our heads off and thought it was yuck. I was embarrassed, but glad that we could laugh about it.

One of the last days I got sick. I don't know what it was or what was bothering me, but I wanted a priesthood blessing. After the testimony meeting Dave Detweiler gave me a blessing. I don't remember the words or anything- I can't even put a finger on why it was so special to me, but it has left an imprint. Maybe because it was his first "sickness" blessing as a preisthood holder, and I could feel how nervous he was with his hands shaking on my head. Maybe it was because it was with all my dearest friends encircled about me in the middle of a beautiful camp. Maybe it was just because it was after a spiritual meeting and the spirit was still with us so strong. either way, I remember.

8/10/1998

Us 3rd years rode in Linda Detweiler's durango- it is brand new! Its a very nice car. The whole way home I stayed in the front because of my leg. And Jolyn, Stephanie, Emily and Kendra sat in the back. They sange "there goes my baby" by Trisha Yearwood the whole (and I mean WHOLE) way home. I like that song but I'm too shy to sing with them. Oh how I wanted to though.
It was so worth it though- going to camp.

Do any of you girls remember that??


this was a girls camp several years later....
left to right.
Courtney Maughan. Joyln Walker. Laura Haney. Natalie Thurston (our YCL). Kendra Pocock. Stephanie Berrett. Emily Thomas. Me.