Kayla Laird has been a part of MHCC since day one. She was a camper the first year we held camp and then a counselor. She recently graduated from cosmetology school and is studying to be licensed by the state of Oregon.
Tanner, Kayla, and Adrian in 2019
Merry Heart Children's Camp is a place that allows you to be yourself and to meet other kids who have had similar experiences.
Back in 2014 when the camp first started, I was only 13 years old. At that time I had never met anyone with a heart condition, let alone someone with a zipper scar on their chest like mine.
It’s a place where you don’t have to worry about everyone going faster than you, because we're all going slow. I felt an immediate connection, filled with acceptance.
I’m proud to say that I’ve made friends at camp that, I believe, I will see and grow with for the rest of my life. We’ve connected through our shared experiences that not many other kids our age can relate to. For that, I am thankful that a camp like the Merry Heart Children’s Camp exists.
I could never truly tell you how happy this camp makes me. Comparing scars and stories with my fellow campers is the highlight of my summer. I would not trade these moments and memories for the world, or a new heart.