Elena Westbrook is a former camper, five-year volunteer counselor, and Camp Odayin enthusiast. She is a proud third generation Chicagoan who currently works at a small marketing agency in Chicago’s west loop. When she’s not at Camp Odayin, she’s trying new recipes, diving into Chicago history, and catching up with camp pals old and new. […] Read more
Did you know…Camp Odayin’s logo is a turtle and we affectionately them Mortimer! Why do you think we have a turtle logo? Here is what a few people think: The Turtle symbolizes longevity, perseverance, steadfastness, protection, retreat, healing, tranquility, the Earth, and transformation.– Kelly Because the turtle shell is very tough and strong…. Just like […] Read more
I was so nervous about sending Ben to overnight camp for the first time. Another heart mom and I agreed to send our boys to Camp Odayin together. We reminded each other that the kids were probably safer at camp than they were at home! We teared up when the bus left, but we knew our […] Read more
The road is often challenging when navigating life with a heart condition. Campers Miranda, Ashlyn, and Eddie were all awaiting heart transplants when their moms Melanie, Angie, and Chris discovered powerful sources of support, for both themselves and their children, in one another. Below, they each provide a bit of insight into their shared journey… […] Read more
(Guest blog post for Adult Congenital Heart Association by Cassandra Reinbold) Two weeks after I was born, the doctor came rushing in with more doctors behind him during my check-up to discover I had a special heart. Appointment after appointments, they discovered I was born with an unrepairable ventricular septal defect. My first surgery was […] Read more
(Guest blog post for Conquering CHD by Laura Hoagland) To say I enjoy summer is an understatement. I LOVE summer! Growing up in the Pacific Northwest summer was filled with family vacations to the coast, afternoons on the lake and attending a local summer camp with school friends. As I got older, and especially throughout […] Read more
(Originally published in the Star Tribune August 19, 2003 – By Robert Franklin) “Ten-year-old Donovan Bays says a big attraction at camp this summer was “being able to swim without my shirt.” That’s because he wasn’t self-conscious about his heart surgery scars. Nearly all the kids at Camp Odayin — and several of the counselors […] Read more
