Dr. Gwenn Is In

Medical Camp Offers Family Time For Kids With TIP

With family vacations coming up this month and in April, many families are busy planning outings to grab some much needed time together. This is a much needed part of today's family life for all families, including those who have a family member battling a major medical condition. Thankfully, for many medical conditions, there are emerging family camps to help given families that much needed break from every day life but with the peace of mind that their loved-one's medical needs will be cared for. Specialized medical camps also allow kids to develop a peer group and realize they are far from being alone. I recently learned there was a special family camp for kids with a bleeding disorder called, ITP, or idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura. This is an immune disorder where the body attacks its own platelets causing the person to bleed easily and spontaneously bleed if the platelet count becomes low enough. As you might imagine, an illness like this causes a huge stress on a family. So, having a way to unwind, and feel less alone, is important for the healing process as well as overall family well being.The ITP foundation asked me to share the following information with you:PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ITP Foundation Announces ITP Family Weekend at Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Darien, CT The ITP Foundation, dedicated to battling the bleeding disorder ITP (immune thrombocytopenic purpura) in children, announced today that the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp will hold a special ITP Family Weekend at its facilities in Ashford, CT on April 18-20. The camp is specifically for families with a child or children affected by chronic ITP. There will be many fun activities, educational programs, camp activities, and most of all, a chance to meet and share information with other families who know about the special challenges associated with ITP, said Christopher Landino, Executive Director of the ITP Foundation. During the weekend, the ITP Foundation will also schedule a parents-only informational meeting with a doctor with significant experience with ITP. All of this takes place in the beautiful surroundings of the world famous Hole in the Wall Gang Camp located in upstate Connecticut and started with donations from Newman's Own, the food company created by Paul Newman. Newman is still an active member of the Camp's Board of Directors. We are very excited that the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is again opening its doors to children with ITP and their families, as they did in our inaugural collaboration in 2007, said Landino. We feel fortunate that this renowned organization recognizes the needs of families dealing with the challenges associated with ITP and is willing to help in this special way. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is pleased to be working with the ITP Foundation on this special weekend camp, said Dr. Sharon Space, Medical Director of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. The Camp is dedicated to helping children and families deal with the challenges associated with many different diseases and illnesses, and we are glad that we can offer our services to those affected by chronic ITP. There is no cost to families to attend, other than providing their own transportation to and from the Camp. The ITP Foundation has established a small travel fund for families who, without assistance, might not otherwise be able to attend. Grants will be awarded on a case-by-case basis. Any family with a child age 5-15 who has chronic ITP is eligible to attend. Completed application forms are due by February 29. Applications are available at: www.holeinthewallgang.org or at www.itpfoundation.org. For more information, please contact the ITP Foundation: camp@itpfoundation.org. About ITP and the ITP Foundation ITP is a disorder of the blood that involves the immune system and occurs in about 4 in 100,000 children, causing spontaneous bruising and/or bleeding throughout the body. The ITP Foundation is a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of ITP, fund ITP research and help families with children and adolescents who have ITP and need financial assistance to manage and treat this dangerous bleeding disorder. The Foundation takes an active role in raising awareness of ITP through outreach efforts on both national and local levels. This is done through sporting, social and educational events. The primary focus is on sponsorship of endurance athletes who raise funds for the ITP Foundation. Image