From June 23 to 30 a group of children (whose average age is 13 years) with kidney disease They will participate in a vacation organized by the ALCER National Federation. These are part of the CRECE project. Everyone is going to enjoy the beauty of Solórzano ('la Trasmiera' / Cantabria). And they will also discover that in the company of others who are in the same situation they can learn a lot about themselves and also about 'how to take care of themselves'
The children who come to these vacations are all in a similar situation, but at different stages. What is sought by allowing this coexistence is that those who have not yet been transplanted see how their future can be and that those who have already gone through the operation, act as “teachers” of the rest.
'Avanti' The star program of Carlos Sobera this season on television, has been the formula chosen among others, to make a teaching day on the main issues that children both transplanted and pending transplantation should know about their lifestyle. They will be fun and educational days for everyone in which children will grow because they will feel safer when living new situations and parents who let them go (with a mixture of insecurity and hope) will also grow because when the holidays are over, their children will be a little more autonomous as people and with respect to their illness.
The transplant is not for life, but today the best solution. More for those who still have many years of life ahead. They are children who will live the revolutions that medicine will offer in the next 80 years. But at present, all these young people will learn to wait for their moment and then to live with a transplant that will not last them all their lives. And the best way to learn is that it is the children themselves who teach each other what they should and should not do to have the best possible quality of life.
Everything is based on the support of each other. On a previous occasion a mother, told the ALCER technicians if they could help her son to prick himself the hormone, because he was very afraid to do it at home alone. Seeing the rest of the classmates how they pricked themselves and after being instructed by the nurses on how to do it, when the camp ended, this boy pricked himself.
Surely the technicians and monitors of ALCER have innumerable stories of overcoming and solidarity occurred during the annual holidays: newly transplanted children who call by phone to express that they would like to be with the rest, or small ones that finally! They can bathe in the pool after several years, are some of the examples.
And the parents? They are obviously a key piece, because they place the care of the most valuable thing they have in their lives, their children. Some do it from the tranquility of having checked the positive experience of other years. Others from the uncertainty of the novelty, but supported by the testimony of other parents who are the best guarantee that they can be calm while their children enjoy a vacation
I have commented that the organizers have organized a formula inspired by 'Avanti', and that is that through the game, they will learn with each other as a team the most important health principles that they should take into account in their lives. This activity will take place on Wednesday 27 at 6:00 p.m.
We talked about children, parents, but I would like to stop at the team that attends the kidsIt is formed by eight nurses, two psychologists, five monitors, a social educator and four technicians. They will guide and supervise 20 hours of cultural and recreational visits, 14 of nighttime activities and nine of educational workshops, as well as ensuring that each child with their particular characteristics is integrated and happy.
From here we send congratulations to ALCER for the initiative and our best wishes to the children to have a great time, and learn a lot.
