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Week of August 31 - September 6, 2008

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This summer's campers and counselors

Being the child of a person with Alzheimer's can force some children to grow up faster than others. Sometimes kids with a parent or grandparent with Alzheimer's must take on a lot of responsibilities.

Well, now there's a special summercamp that can help. Amy Lester has that story:

Amy Lester:

The freedom to play, to horse around without a care in the world. That's something these kids rarely get a chance to do.

Jessica: "Sometimes it can get really frustrating."

Each one of them lives with a parent or a grandparent who has Alzheimer's.

Jessica: "It can be very very stressful."

Jessica Laws is thirteen-years old. She often feels more like a parent than a grandaughter.

Jessica: "I'm constantly trying to remember something for him. Did he take his pills? Did he eat this morning? Does he have time to eat? Do we have to get on the road as quick as possible?"

Austin Mobley is also 13. His mother was diagnosed with Early-Onset-Alzheimer's about six years ago.

Austin: "I start to think, 'Am I ever going to have my Mom back?', which I know I am not."

To help her son and other kids, Austin's mother got a grant to start the six-day camp.

Tracy Mobley: "My son, I've seen him struggle with anger issues, self-esteem. This disease just takes so much away from them."

The campers all remember when they found out their mother, father or grandparent has the disease.

"I was only eight years old, and my sister and my mother had to tell me by talking about the movie 'Finding Nemo,' with a character who had short-term memory."

Here, they share their stories and feelings with people who understand them.

Jessica: "So you're sitting there, you have to keep repeating yourself, asking him these questions. And he'll be sitting there, shaking his head, like, 'I can't remember'."

Between the emotional release inside, and the physical activity outside...

Austin: "It helps me relax, have fun, just be a kid for a week."

The camp gives the kids moments free from responsibility, time just for them.

"It gets kind of frustrating. So coming to a camp that's a long way away from home, and no worries, just me and some other kids, is fun."

Amy Lester, The News On 6.

BY:

Amy Lester, Reporter, newson6.com

MORE INFORMATION:

For information, contact Denyce Willis of the Oklahoma/Arkansas Alzheimer's Chapter at 918-481-7741. You can also contact Tracy Mobley at 417-933-2030.

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