Weeks before camp started, Sandy was still short of male counselors for Tyler, Texas, T.R.A.C. She and Nancy, her co-director, met together to discuss the situation.
“Have you heard back from David?” Nancy asked. The science teacher who’d volunteered with Royal Family KIDS would be perfect.
“He was still looking at his schedule, “Sandy answered.
A knock on the door interrupted them. Sandy raised her eyebrows and eyed Nancy. Late morning on a weekday was strange time for visitors.
“David!” Nancy exclaimed in surprise. “We were just talking about you.”
“I was out running errands and thought I’d drop this by in person.” David smiled, handing over his application. “I can help at T.R.A.C. this year.”
Sandy clapped. “Oh, you’re an answer to prayer.”
Nancy asked him about Alvin, a camper with diabetes. “Would you care if we paired you together?” David agreed without hesitation.
At camp, the redheaded, freckle-faced teen proved to be sharp, especially when it came to his medical issues with diabetes. He faithfully poked his finger to test his sugar levels and didn’t flinch when he got his insulin shots. But like most teens, Alvin liked sweets. He tested the boundaries at camp and played a dangerous game, taking higher doses of insulin to compensate for the extra sugar he ate.
When David confronted him, Alvin whined. “It’s not fair. I’m the only one who has to deal with this.”
“Actually,” David countered, “I teach at a school where four kids have diabetes, too.”
“Really?”
David nodded. “You know how we’ve been talking about facing our giants?”
Alvin nodded.
“Diabetes is your giant, and you are the only one who can fight it.”
Alvin mulled over the idea. By the end of camp, he’d embraced the idea. He realized his food choices gave him a certain amount of control over his diabetes, and he felt empowered.
“I’ve made more friends at camp than my whole life.” Alvin beamed. “I don’t feel different here. I’m accepted.”
From Just Three Days: From Heartbreak to Hope compiled and written by Angela Welch Prusia