Emerson Gets to Experience Camp, Like Any Other Kid

At 10 years old, Emerson knows what it means to live a different kind of normal. But this August, he’s doing something wonderfully ordinary: heading to overnight camp, just like any other kid.

Emerson was born prematurely with his identical twin brother, Winston, at just 29 weeks. From the start, he faced serious medical challenges. After two years of unexplained symptoms and numerous hospital admissions – including time in the ICU and three emergency helicopter rides – Emerson was diagnosed with gastrointestinal failure. In essence, his stomach is a non-functioning organ in his body.

By age two, Emerson had undergone 10 surgeries, including open-heart. Today, that number stands at 29. He lives with three feeding and drainage tubes and receives nightly infusions at home. Despite the severity of his condition – including recent complications with his kidneys and blood clots – Emerson continues to defy expectations.

He just completed his first full year at school and participates in baseball and basketball with the help of full-time nursing support.

“He’s the strongest kid I know,” says his mom, Amanda. “He just keeps going.”

This summer, with the encouragement of his long-time nurses and his care team at SickKids, Emerson gets to attend overnight camp for the first time. Campfire Circle will provide him with the opportunity to swim in a lake, hike, enjoy s’mores by the fire, and most importantly, connect with other kids who live with serious illnesses.

“It’s so nice that there’s something special for him to feel normal and meet other kids like him,” says Amanda. “He’s missed out on so much: school, friendships, field trips, even baseball games. For him to have something that he can go to and feel like a regular kid is really, really nice.”

For Amanda and her family, Campfire Circle is more than just a getaway for Emerson – it’s a rare chance to exhale. “We don’t have night nursing. Everything falls on us,” says Amanda. “Camp gives us the gift of breathing room. We can spend time with our other kids, knowing Emerson is safe, supported, and having the time of his life.”

When you support Campfire Circle, you’re making childhood moments possible for kids like Emerson. Our camp welcomes kids with organ failure, heart conditions, sickle cell disease, and other serious illnesses into a safe, inclusive, medically supported space where they can finally just be kids.

But hundreds more are still waiting for their chance. With your donation today, you can help send 700 more children to camp this summer – each one ready for a week filled with joy, connection, and unforgettable memories.