Camp offers relief for ill children and their families

COPAKE — David Gordon was not expected to live past the age of 5. Born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a phenotype resulting from the partial deletion of the fourth chromosome, David and his family, from North Haven, Conn., have beaten the odds.

But life for David, who is now 16, is not easy. David is handicapped both mentally and physically, and his own life, as well as that of his family’s, is far from normal.

The same could be said for many of the children and families who visit Camp Pontiac in Copake every year as part of the Starlight Children’s Foundation’s “Great Escapes Program.� The program provides opportunities and relief for seriously ill children and their families.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation is an international organization. Each year the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut chapter’s “Great Escapes Program� provides a variety of activities for more than 5,000 children and families, including baseball games, concerts, the circus, museums and hospital parties.

The trip to Camp Pontiac has been running for three years and approximately 250 children, ages 7 to 18, and their families, from the Tri-state area attended this year. From Friday, Aug. 27, to Sunday, Aug. 29, the entire camp was open for use, including swimming, gymnastics, zip lines, a private movie theater and much more.

“Illness really affects the whole family,� explained Elaine Siver, executive director for Starlight’s Tri-state chapter. “I think events like this weekend really allow children to be children. It breaks the pattern of illness and it takes the focus off illness.�

The camp is owned by twin brothers and doctors Rick and Ken Etra, who provide the camp to Starlight at close to no cost.

“Through a friend I got involved in Starlight over 10 years ago,� Rick Etra said. “I’ve felt so blessed to be able to provide this opportunity. When I look at the children who visit through the Starlight program, I think, ‘Without a bad storm they couldn’t have a rainbow.’

“They have a great storm that they have to deal with every day,� he continued. “It’s something none of us could imagine. I’ve had people say how lucky these kids are to be able to experience this, but I tell them, ‘No, it’s how lucky we are to be able to be part of this.’�

At camp, David Gordon is a smiling, energetic kid. He’s a magnet to the camera, and grinned excitedly when his morning zip line ride was mentioned.

“Starlight gets the picture,� explained David’s father, Alan. “They really get it. Everybody feels so connected, and for the time that we’re with them our troubles disappear.�

Gordon said that its important to have a connection to other families who have children with special needs.

“It’s like when two motorcycles pass, they give each other the wave. It’s the same way for special needs families. It’s all about the children for Starlight, and that’s exactly how all the families feel.�

Another child, Nick Birch, who is nearly 12, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a highly malignant brain tumor, this past February.

Nick, whose family is from Briarcliff Manor, bounced around the gymnasium room with other children, laughing and playing while his mother, Carol, watched.

“It’s overwhelming. It’s beautiful,� she said of her experience with Starlight. “It’s far exceeded our expectations. They haven’t stopped having fun since we’ve been here. To have something so local … we’re really fortunate.�

The Starlight Children’s Foundation provides all of its services to families at no cost and is looking to expand the size of the Camp Pontiac weekend in years to come.

“It’s a very simple concept and program,� Siver said. “We’re just grateful to be able to provide the opportunity.

“You see the mothers when they arrive here, and they just take a deep breath,� she added. “You really observe something very profound. It’s a repository, a vacation, and it’s something very special for their children.�

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