TAMPA, Fla. - Kaylee Johnston threw the bowling ball down the lane with as much force as her 11-year-old frame could generate.
Six pins hit the deck.
She wasn’t the only one.
A group of young burn survivors gathered together for another day of fun with Tampa firefighters at the AMF Lanes near the University of South Florida.
“Just to see the enjoyment of all the kids being together and actually getting along and having fun,” said Tampa fire Lt. Wendy Brunot.
The kids will wear the reminders of their trauma on their skin for the rest of their lives. Severe burns left behind scars on the 23 campers. Despite the scars, it was the smiles that stood out to the crowd that slowly gathered to watch the action.
“We’re on a different level and we can actually relate stories and we have a bond,” said Brunot, who was burned as a nine-month-old after grease spilled on her. She has participated in the camp for eight years.
This week-long sleep away experience is called Camp Hopetáke (pronounced, “HOPE-A- TAH-KEE”), which is a summer camp for children ages 5-17 who have survived a burn injury.
Hopetáke is the Seminole Indian word for “children”.
The camp is housed at USF, free-of-charge to campers and financially supported by the Tampa General Hospital Foundation and Tampa Firefighter Charity Fund. All volunteer counselors at Camp Hopetáke are either TGH nurses and therapists or firefighters from Tampa Firefighters Local 754.
Camp Hopetáke began on Monday with a trip to an Orlando theme park and indoor trampoline facility. On Wednesday they will ride ziplines in Dade City, followed by ice skating in Brandon on Thursday and a return trip to Orlando on Friday to visit a water park.
The camp provides a safe, comfortable, supportive environment for the kids to share their feelings and experiences with others that truly understand what they have been through. It also provides a support system for these kids for the rest of their lives.
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