Sickle cell anemia is an inherited life long condition affecting the red blood cells. Children that have sickle cell disease may experience periods of fatigue pain crises, infections, stroke and other life changing events. These events may occur at anytime and can become life threatening. The children are usually anemic decreasing their energy level and often their ability to physically keep up their peers.
Our camp was created to offer these children a time of respite from the rigors of their diseases. They come to camp to experience all the wonders camp has to offer under the watchful eyes of volunteer doctors, nurses and camp counselors. Children are encouraged to participate as much as possible. Being “regular” campers allows them to enjoy social benefits, promotes overall fitness, strength, and allows the children to grow in independence and confidence.
Sickle Cell Disease is a group of disorders that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. People with this disorder have abnomrl hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin 'S', which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or cresent shape.
Signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease usually begin in early childhood. Characteristic features of this disorder include a low number of red blood cells (anemia), repeated infections, and periodic pain. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Some people have mild syptoms, while others are frequently hospitalized for more serious complications.
The signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease are caused by the sickling of red blood cells. When red blood cells sickly, they break dowm prematurely, which can lead to anemia. Anemia can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and delayed growth and development in children. The rapid breakdown of red blood cells may also cause yellowing of the eyes and skin, which are signs of jaundice. Painful episodes can occur when sickled red blood cells, which are stiff and inflexible, get stuck in small blood vessels. These episodes deprive tissues and organs of oxygen-rich blood and can lead to organ damage, especially in the lungs, kidneys, spleen, and brain. A particularly serious complicatoin of sickle cell disease is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). Pulmanoary hypertension occurs in about one-third of adults with sickle cell disease and can lead to heart failure.
Camp Jubilee was created to offer children with sickle cell disease a time of respite from the rigors of their disease. They came to camp to experience all the wonders camps has to offer under the watchful eyes of volunteer doctors, nurses, and camp counselors. Children are encouraged to participate as much as possible. Being "regular" campers allows them to enjoy social benefits, promotes overall fitness, strength, and allows the children to grow in indepence and confidence.
Camp Jubilee
PO Box 35488
Dallas, Texas 75235-0488
(940) 441-2267
contactus@campjubilee.info
