Inflamed and Untamed

Because here we know everyone bleeds sometimes.
Because I like myself most when I’m here; am joyous and
loving and less afraid. Closer to the person
I want to be. Because leaving this and leaving friends who are more like
sisters
tears me to pieces
and coming back feels like coming 
home. Because we have to be Crohn’s and
UC kids
all the time
and not one more kid should have to be that.

Because I have seen pain I can barely understand splayed
on the faces of my sisters.
Because I have seen them fight with courage.

Because sometimes it’s so much
easier to give up;
because medicines stop working and our
bodies get tired and it’s
so. hard. to go forward; so hard to be grateful,
hard to be loving,
hard to feel stronger,
hard to be vulnerable and
open when our broken places still
twinge.

But because my sisters around me are doing the same,
crying with me and singing encouragement,
falling and hurting and rising and loving with
open arms,
going forward; because
here, together, we are strong enough.

This poem was written by one of my campers at Camp Oasis, Olivia Linn.  She read it at the talent show and brought me to tears, I was just so proud. Not just because she was my camper and I was being a proud momma older sister. I cried because she so beautifully summed up what camp does/is for us.  She put into words the hardships we face and the courage we face it with while having the support of our friends who share our disease.  I am proud of her because she is already a young beautiful woman who has strength beyond her years.  This girl is definitely a Girl With Guts! All of the girls I had the week of Oasis amaze me. They are strong, lovely, passionate, and making a difference.