By Kyle Roberts
Managing Type-1 Diabetes is no easy feat, regardless of age.
Factor in the struggles of being a child in today’s world while trying to keep your blood sugar under control — it can feel overwhelming.
Camp Hot Shots addresses those struggles head on.
Hosted by MedCamps at its site in Lincoln Parish from June 10 – 14, Camp Hot Shots served over 60 children that have a Type-1 Diabetes diagnosis, where they came to spend a full week at the overnight camp and participated in all sorts of various activities that revolved around managing blood sugar, while still having fun as a kid.
“Ultimately, the idea behind the camp is that we want these kids to take ownership of their own health care,” MedCamps director Caleb Seney said. “They’re not always going to be kids. So while they’re at camp, they’re having these incredible experiences from zip-lines, swimming, horseback riding, group games, pranks — all the stuff that entails coming to camp. And they get a complete camp experience and a medical education built into it.”
Ashlea Hill, FNP-C, BC-ADM, CDE, who is owner and operator of the Diabetes Care Center in Ruston, La., has made her life’s mission to help children learn to manage Type-1 Diabetes, commonly referred to as Juvenile Diabetes. And her role at Camp Hot Shots the perfect way to fulfill that mission: by empowering campers to take control with the technology available to them.
Nearly a dozen staff members from the DCC joined Hill as they worked with campers on meeting blood sugar targets during mealtime and during activities. To do so, they use a system where campers wear a sensor, allowing Hill to see their blood sugar levels in real-time 24 hours a day.
The staff was charged with age-appropriate education for the campers where they could ask questions.
Hill was emotional when she talked about seeing the progress the campers make during their time at Camp Hot Shots.
“To see every camper overnight and waking up in the morning with the right levels — it’s incredible,” Hill said. “And some kids have not put on their own (insulin pumps) by themselves without their parents before they come here. By the end of the week, they’re changing out these things all by themselves.”
The real win for Hill is that the campers got to see that they are not alone in their struggle.
“They feel that,” Hill said. “And real bonds are made here. It’s the most rewarding part for the kids.”
Camp Hot Shots began in 2019 after Jennifer Holtz, wife of former Louisiana Tech head football coach Skip Holtz and former board member for Med Camps, wanted to do something specifically for children with juvenile diabetes.
Type-1 Diabetes impacted the Holtz family decades ago after Skip’s younger brother Kevin was diagnosed in the early 80’s while father Lou was the head coach at the University of Arkansas.
For Jennifer, it was natural fit for the Holtz’s family foundation to help start Camp Hot Shots.
“It meant the world to Skip’s family that we could help create this camp,” Jennifer said. “Skip’s mother, before she passed away, was thrilled. It really triggered a lot of memories for her as a young mother. One of the beautiful things that I loved about Med Camps in particular, regardless of which camp the children were attending was just how intentional (Seney) and his staff are on the needs of the parents and giving them the chance to speak with one another.
“I feel like our foundation is the winner at the end of the day — to be able to just have a little piece of the happiness of others.”
Happiness abounded, for sure, at Camp Hot Shots, including a silent dance at the end of the camp experience, where campers would listen to their own mixes in their headsets and danced together following a huge steak dinner provided by the Hill family.
On Friday, the campers were dismissed to go back home, equipped with knowledge for how to help stay in control of their blood sugar — while also learning how to be a kid in the midst of it after the week of competitions and connections.
“To see them be there for their health and for each other,” Hill said in conclusion, “it was just a wonderful thing to be able to experience.”
