Reply All
Camp Memories
AS A FORMER camper and counselor in
training at an American Diabetes Association
camp, I was thrilled to read the article
“Happy Campers” [May ’ 12, p. 42]. Camp
NYDA in upstate New York was my home
away from home for one month each of nine
summers during the 1960s and early 1970s.
There I learned about diabetes. But more
important, I gained confidence in myself to
apply those skills to last a lifetime. There
was plenty of support from the medical
team, the counselors, and other campers.
We had fun and learned that we were kids
first—who just happened to have diabetes.
Sadly, the last Camp NYDA session was
in 1991, after 55 years of operation. Many
friendships were formed through the years,
and now plans are being made for a first-
ever reunion at the campgrounds in 2013.
Our new Camp NYDA Alumni Association
group can be found on Facebook at “Camp
NYDA Reunion 2013.”
Besides all the wonderful memories I
have of my NYDA experience, camp
certainly made a huge difference in my life.
Sandy Cohen Dettenmayer, Bluffton, S.C.
I WAS DIAGNOSED in 1966 (I lived in
Brooklyn, N. Y., then) and went to Camp NYDA
in Burlingham, N. Y., the following summer.
Maddy’s Book
I was 9 when I was
diagnosed with type 1
diabetes. I did not
know much about the
disease, which made
me very scared. I had
to stay in the hospital
for a few days until
I felt better and
learned about how
to take care of my
body. I was mostly
afraid that this would
change my life and
that I would not be
able to play the
sports I like and go
other places and do
what my friends do
and just be Maddy.
We decided my
diagnosis day in
April would be like
a birthday, just
celebrating my good
job in taking care of
myself. I wanted to
go back to St. Mary’s
Hospital in Madison
and talk to other
kids who have newly
discovered they
have the disease and
let them know they
would be OK, too.
The nurses at
St. Mary’s said
maybe writing
something that they
could give to kids
would be better. So I
wrote a book about
my first year with
type 1 diabetes. They
now give it to all the
newly diagnosed kids
in the hospital. I was
really happy that
they could do that.
I want my story to
help kids know they
can still do all the
things they love—
they just have to
take care of their
bodies at the same
time. Reading about
another kid just like
them might make
everyone feel better.
I am brave now about
my disease. Maybe
new kids with the
disease can be
brave sooner, too.
T�e Editors respond:
Maddy Maus turns
11 on August 28. We’ve
posted her book at
forecast.diabetes.org/
maddy. It’s in a form
that’s easy to print,
and Maddy would love
for readers to share
it with children
newly diagnosed
with diabetes.
Thank you, Maddy!
Maddy Maus
reads her book at
st. Mary’s Hospital
in Madison, Wis.
E-mai� us @:
replyall@diabetes.org
Send mai� to:
Diabetes Forecast
1701 N. Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
We are not able to publish all letters and reserve the
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include your full name, city, and state.
forecast.diabetes.org august 2012 11
