Happy National Doctor’s Day! Not all superheroes wear capes. Some superheroes wear white coats (or tutus and silly costumes while they’re at camp)!
Meet one of our Medical Volunteers, Dr. Shikha, who has been a believer in camp magic for the past six years, after hearing about Roundup River Ranch from two of her colleagues at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Shikha is just one of many of the incredible doctors that makes camp possible, and we are grateful for each and every one of them!
“I really got captivated by the magic of camp and the chance it gives kids who I know are struggling socially. To see them in a group of kids where they are welcomed, or to see a child who thought they could never play a sport or climb up the rock wall at camp – that made a difference to me. It’s those simple pieces of joy that I love. Being here has helped me realize that we take for granted things that kids get to do, even in healthcare. I don’t think that we understand that things that are normal for many other kids, these kids here don’t get to do. A week at camp makes a difference and we can reset how they go out the world for the rest of the year.”
Describing herself as a “Roundup River Ranch Pusher,” Dr. Shikha said her time as a volunteer has impacted her perspective as a physician, and that she encourages many of her patients as possible to come to camp.
“It’s always really fun when they come back to clinic after they’ve been here, to hear about their experience. They get excited and giddy, and they want to tell me about their friends that they’ve met and whatever their favorite activity was. Everybody wants to talk about hands free spaghetti night. It’s the little things right? It’s those simple pieces of joy and I think that’s what I love.
I think that being here has helped me realize, I’m going to get teary, that we take for granted things that kids get to do, even in healthcare. I don’t think that we understand that things that are normal for many other kids, these kids here don’t get to do. That week here makes a difference and we can really reset how they go out the world for the rest of the year.” 🫶
A HUGE round of applause to all our amazing doctors that make the magic of camp happen! If you see a doctor today, be sure to thank them for all they do!
