Looking up at the rock wall, Jordyn felt small. She was just 7, after all. Was she too little to take on this challenge? Too weak? Too different?
With encouragement from her fellow campers and a steady hand from her dad, Jordyn timidly placed one foot on the wall, and then the other. Soon, she climbed higher than her dad could reach.
Jordyn, 7, front, and her brother, Jase, had a blast at a camp where they could explore their abilities.
At that moment, Jordyn’s bravery kicked in.
She climbed and climbed, eventually reaching the top. She peered down as loud cheers erupted. The other campers and their families couldn’t hold back their excitement for Jordyn’s achievement — using her single hand to climb a rock wall that stands nearly three stories tall.
That day, Jordyn conquered her fear and discovered just how high she could go.
“Getting to see Jordyn come out of her shell and really open up has been an
awesome experience,” explained her
dad, Clint.
This experience was just one of many at ShrineABILITY Camp, a weekend event organized by Shriners Children’s St. Louis for patients who live with upper extremity differences. Children and their families take on challenges like the rock wall, archery, horseback riding and canoeing. The camp environment offers a safe space for patients to build confidence in their own abilities, and for families who have children living with a hand or arm difference to find solidarity.
“To watch the campers grow in their confidence in how they live their life with a limb difference, those are the moments that we do this for,” reflected Michelle Cohen, OT, occupational and hand therapist at Shriners Children’s St. Louis.
