This summer, three patients who are treated at Cooper University Hospital for sickle cell disease got a chance to forget about the fear and uncertainty of their illness and just be a kid again. On July 24, 2011, Brianni Campbell, 13, Tajaheem Ameen, 9, and his sister Tanaajah, 7, waited anxiously outside of the main entrance at Cooper for the bus to arrive to transport them for a week-long camping trip at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, CT.
Once there, they had the opportunity to make arts and crafts, mini golf, go horseback riding, fish, play games and much more. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is a nonprofit, year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other serious illnesses. Through the Camp’s Hospital Outreach Program, the trip was made available to Cooper at no cost. With the success of this year’s trip, Cooper hopes to send more patients to the camp next summer.