Lauren

Leaving Smile-A-Mile’s camp sessions gets harder and harder every year, because it is my second home. I was diagnosed with leukemia when I was 7 years old, and only two months after I started treatment, I attended my first week long camp. I was so amazed by how much I was loved and cared for at camp, and I realized that there were so many incredible people who are just like me. I remember, even after my first week of camp, I came home in tears because that week had changed my life forever. SAM gave me a way to escape all of the bad that was happening to me through the time I was on chemo, and I knew that I was going to go every year after that, and I have. Next year will be my 9th year and I plan on going every summer until I am old enough to be a counselor. SAM has given me so many amazing friendships that I will hold on to forever, and I am so grateful for my Smile-A-Mile family.