Before last summer, Jamarcus Washington only knew one person who also suffered from asthma – his brother LeeVaris. Then, the 12-year-old twins had the opportunity to attend Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center’s Camp Wezbegon. During the week-long summer camp for children with asthma, the boys met other children whose lives have been affected by the chronic disease.

“Camp Wezbegon helps children realize they are not alone,” Robin Coleman, Le Bonheur asthma clinical case manager, said. “So many children deal with asthma every day and so many times they feel that they are the only one that has to deal with this disease. In a lot of cases, a child will find someone at camp that goes to their school or lives in their neighborhood. 

The Washington boys had bronchitis at birth. Last year, the symptoms were diagnosed as asthma. The boys’ mother, Fayette Washington said teaching the boys to adjust their lives to asthma treatment was a struggle. They didn’t want to take their medicine or monitor their air intake and outtake using a Peak Flow rate. Fayette had to keep the boys on track with their treatment.

Something changed during camp. Between swimming, hiking and pillow fights the campers attended daily classes on asthma management. Jamarcus and LeeVaris learned how to independently care for their asthma. The boys learned to recognize the signs of asthma attack before it struck. Now, they keep their own testing and treatment schedules and are proud to be independent. Le Bonheur physicians and nurses are on-site to help teach the children.

Robin says Camp Wezbegon is a great education experience for the children. “We teach them about their asthma, what it does to their lungs, how their medicines help them, and generally how to control their asthma. We teach them in fun ways (games, scavenger hunts, etc.) and by creating a routine with their medicines while they are at camp,” she said. “Most of the time they don't realize they are learning.”

As a camp just for children with asthma, Camp Wezbegon offers children a special place to go to experience traditional summer camp. For most children with asthma, poor health makes it impossible to attend other summer camps. The campers stay in cabins and enjoy outdoor activities.

Camp Wezbegon shows children with asthma that they can do things that other children do.  “By participating in a wide variety of activities at camp, they realize that asthma doesn't have to control their lives as long as they work to keep their asthma under control,” Robin said.

Jamarcus and LeeVaris Washington can’t wait to go back to camp this year. Fayette says, “My boys loved camp. I recommend that everyone with an asthmatic child send their child there.”

For more information about Camp Wezbegon, contact Robin Coleman in Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center’s Respiratory Care Services Department at 901-287-6169 or ColemanR@Lebonheur.org.