Medical Minute: Heart Diagnoses and Summer Camp Session 2

Welcome back to the Medical Minute! This month, we are joined by Dr. Jessica Persson, a Pediatric ICU Cardiologist at Children’s Hospital. Below, Dr. Persson explains how Cardiac diagnoses are handled at camp and how the medical staff and volunteers are able to treat campers while still keeping the magic of camp!

“Hi there, I’m Dr. Jessica Persson. I work at Children’s Hospital Colorado as a Pediatric ICU Cardiologist. I’ve been a volunteer at Roundup River Ranch for the past two summers. Next summer, the second Summer Camp Session is serving campers with Cardiac Diagnoses. One of my favorite parts about camp is that the campers think I’m just a silly camp counselor wearing a tutu, which is exactly what I want. And if something medical comes up, like a scratch, stomachache, or something more serious, then I’m there as their doctor, still wearing a tutu, to help them feel better. Our on-camp Depot, or medical clinic, is fully stocked with anything that we can need so we can help the kids feel better as quick as possible and get back to the camp activities, which is our goal. Sometimes, that even means getting creative and bringing the medicine to them, like putting a bandage on at archery, or giving a medication on the grassy running field.”

Diagnoses served during this second Summer Camp Session include: Arrythmias, Congenital and Acquired Heart Disease, Heart Transplant, Kidney Disease, Peritoneal Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, and Neurogenic Bladder.

Our third Family Camp Session will serve campers with Heart Conditions and our sixth Family Camp Session will serve Kidney Conditions as well. Want to know if you qualify for our Summer Camp or Family Camp Sessions? Reach out to medteam@roundupriverranch.org!