Willow Glen Resident

Community

Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Isiah Garcia, 8, learns how to track his breathing with his Peak Flow Meter during his week at Camp Superstuff, an asthma camp run by Breathe California. The camp was held at Willow Glen Middle School.

Camp Superstuff is a breath of fresh air for asthma youth

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Twenty-five youth at Willow Glen Middle School are learning a new set of skills that will help them catch their breath and enjoy the outdoors as the cope with asthma.

These boys and girls attended the 34th annual Camp Superstuff, a weeklong asthma camp for youth age 6 to 12 that was run through Breathe California.

"It feels good coming here," says Alexander Del Real. "I have lots of friends here."

The 8-year-old has been coming to asthma camp for two years. He developed asthma when he was a year old.

"My mom says I had asthma attacks when I was a baby, but I don't remember them," he says. "I've learned lots of stuff here like how to inhale and exhale and breathe in oxygen."

Alexander is one of two boys in his household that has asthma, says their mother, Leticia Ceballos. His older brother, 15-year old Exar, also suffers from the condition.

She found the program by word of mouth.

"All year, Alex is asking, 'When does asthma camp start, mom?'" Ceballos says. "He loves it."

The camp is held annually during the first week of August. The propose is to focus on the development of self-esteem and self-awareness.

"These are all school-aged kids who need to know how to manage their asthma in a school setting," says camp director Joseph Francis. "It's where most asthma flare-ups are bound to occur.

We want to teach the kids not to see their asthma as a barrier."

Along with the traditional summer camp activities such as field trips and scavenger hunts, Camp Superstuff has an asthma curriculum that teaches the students about the condition, the signs of an attack and how to use their medicine, Francis says. "They learn and are tested on this academic side at the end of their camp experience."

The students carry their medication during the school year, and the camp stresses to them that they shouldn't be afraid of using it, Francis says. However, the camp also stresses that asthma inhalers and medicine are not to be taken lightly, nor are they a game.

"They cannot share it with their friends," he says, "and they have to be careful with it."

Francis has been part of the program for the last four years and says there are various reasons children with asthma should come to the camp. One of the big reasons is it builds camaraderie, he says.

"The older kids become role models for the younger ones," he adds.

For more information about the camp or Breathe California, call 408.998.5865 or visit www.lung rus.org.