Kiki's Makes Me Feel Normal
Date: June 28, 2010

This is the unlikely story of two friends, who go on a journey together to fight diabetes with friendship, courage and hope.

For seventeen years, Floyd Healthcare Foundation has managed Kiki’s Kids Camp, a day camp designed to meet the special needs of young people who have diabetes. Because of Angelique “Kiki” Petropole’s generous estate gift and the many willing Floyd employees who volunteer each year, the lives of countless children like Ashley and Shelby have been impacted.   Shelby, a seven-year-old full of life and curiosity, was rolling around on the ground, swatting at bugs one sunny afternoon. She had just moved to the neighborhood. From across the street, Ashley began laughing when she saw the grass in Shelby’s hair.

A friendship was born.

Ashley and Shelby went to the same school, and that year, at the age of eight, Ashley was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“It was hard for me to hear that my best friend had been diagnosed. I was scared,” Shelby said.

Ashley had heard about Kiki’s Kids Camp and asked her mom if they could find out more. The next summer, she was a camper. Each camper can bring along a sibling or special friend with or without diabetes to share this unique camp experience.

Naturally, Ashley asked Shelby to come along.

“Bringing a friend made me feel a lot better,” says Ashley.

“I thought it was cool because I felt like I wasn’t the only one whose best friend was diabetic,” says Shelby.

Each summer over 60 children attend the traditional day camp and participate in activities like swimming, sports, arts and crafts, as well as, educational sessions. Ashley and Shelby enjoyed it so much, they attended Kiki’s camp together for the next three years.

“Going to camp makes me feel like I can do a lot of things normal people do. I learn more every year. You get to meet other kids with diabetes, and you don’t feel like the only person who has it,” says Ashley.

Children can attend Kiki’s camp until they’re 12 years old. If a child has diabetes and would like to continue participating when they become a teenager, they can return to Kiki’s camp as a counselor in training (CIT). CITs assist campers by escorting them from place to place, helping with arts and crafts and serving as an example to other children. Ashley could return as a CIT, but that would leave Shelby out.

In August of 2009, Shelby began experiencing frequent restroom breaks and undesired weight loss. She also had started drinking more fluids. It was her second week in seventh grade and after a trip to the hospital, Shelby was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“I almost started crying, but I was kind of relieved that I knew a lot about diabetes thanks to Kiki’s, because it made it a lot easier to take care of myself.”

Today, both Ashley and Shelby serve as CITs at Kiki’s Kids Camp assisting other children and supporting each other. They plan to be a part of camp for a long time and both have aspirations to become counselors.

“Sometimes, I feel like I’ve helped the younger kids a lot. If you tell them something that’s happened to you, it can help them just realizing you’ve had the experience,” says Ashley.

“I like being a CIT because we get to help the kids a lot. I want to come back next year. We get really close with these kids. It’s almost like having a bunch of little siblings,” says Shelby.

When asked what their lives would be like without Kiki’s Kids Camp, Ashley and Shelby respond in unison without skipping a beat– “difficult.”

“If we didn’t have Kiki’s Kids Camp, I would be so confused. My mom would probably get tired of me asking questions,” says Ashley.

“Kiki’s makes me feel like I’m normal,” says Shelby.

As a direct result of the Floyd employees and diabetes educators who share their time to volunteer and make Kiki’s Kids Camp successful, the lives of children like Ashley and Shelby are changed forever. Children throughout Floyd’s service area and beyond who wouldn’t otherwise have the means to attend camp are able to attend because of Kiki’s generous contribution.

Kiki had a personal struggle with diabetes and worked as pediatric nurse in Rome for more than 30 years. Never married, Kiki had no children of her own, and instead dedicated her life’s work to help the children who came to her for health care. Her legacy lives on.

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