The Camp That Changed Everything

Noah has never measured his life by what he can't do. He competes in shot put and discus, loves animals and plans to become a veterinarian. While he uses a wheelchair, he has never allowed his diagnosis to define his potential.

"I've learned to adapt," Noah said. "I do basically everything everyone else does."

But there was one thing he couldn't find at home: Other kids who truly understood his experience.

That changed when he attended Camp Independence for the first time at age 7. 10 years later, camp has become much more than a summer tradition. For the first time, Noah found he was surrounded by kids who understood his life without him having to explain it.

"Outside of camp, I don't know many people with spina bifida," he said. "When I'm there, I don't have to explain myself. Everyone just gets it."

Each summer, campers spend a week boating, fishing, swimming, practicing archery and cheering one another on during talent shows. Along the way, they also build skills to help them manage their own care, navigate conversations about their disability and prepare for adulthood.

For Noah, camp didn't change who he was. It helped him see who he'd been all along.

"Camp helped me realize that having a disability doesn't change who I am," he said. "It's made me more confident and more independent, and it's shown me what's possible for my future."

The friendships he has built over the past decade have lasted long after the campfires are out, giving him a community that continues to encourage and inspire him.

For many families, the cost of attending Camp Independence is beyond what they can afford. This is why OSF HealthCare Foundation offers financial support, allowing many children with spina bifida to attend at no cost. For Noah, that investment has been life-changing.

"I wouldn't have had this opportunity without people who chose to give," he said. "They gave me a place where I belong."

Belonging is a powerful kind of medicine. At Camp Independence, Noah found enough of it to last long after summer ended.

As Noah looks ahead to studying preveterinary medicine and one day owning his own home, he carries with him the confidence camp helped build.

"Spina bifida is part of my story, but it doesn't get to decide my future. I know what I want, and I'm excited to go after it."

For any kids wondering whether they should take that first trip to Camp Independence, his answer is simple:

"Go. It could be the week that changes everything. It was for me."