Zubří full of pirates and sailors

So we found ourselves among four teams bearing the names Ships, Anchors, Helms, and Fish. All week, everyone fought valiantly, and at the end they successfully defeated the old menacing pirate. Their reward was finding the treasure, from which everyone took something home.

As every year, prophylaxis and rehabilitation were a matter of course alongside the all-camp game. New children learned how to self-administer their factors. Older children handled the administration expertly on their own and served as role models and support for the younger ones. Praise from the medical staff was very frequent and certainly well deserved. Our youngest are gradually growing into self-sufficient people, and fewer and fewer of them are afraid of self-administration.

As part of rehabilitation, we once again focused on both individual and group exercises. Every day, all the children tried something different -- from overballs, through resistance bands, to large exercise balls and BOSU trainers. This year too, there was a hike with Nordic walking poles for the most persistent. This time the route went around the camp and the Zubří pond, enlivened by wading through a wet meadow and an unexpected snack in a cornfield. All the hikers arrived safely, a little tired but still with smiles on their faces.

During the camp, we also received distinguished visitors in the form of sponsors, whom we thank for their expressed support, and we are pleased that they continue to find time, space, and resources to cooperate with haemophilia patients. Thanks to one of them, the children were able to enjoy an entire afternoon dedicated to the Normandy Landing, during which a game was prepared, enhanced with authentic videos, storytelling, and even a ride in a military jeep. Already on Sunday, PharmDr. Jana Doleželová arrived to visit us, and a photo shoot and introduction took place. She also deserves great thanks for supporting the campaign "I Support Haemophilia Treatment". Surprising, though ultimately pleasant, was the arrival of Czech Television, which filmed a report about our camp. You could see it on 19 August in the programme Events in Regions. Suddenly everyone became media stars for a minute.

However, so that we would not spend all our time just in the complex, one evening we headed to nearby Bystřice nad Pernštejnem so the children could enjoy the water at the local swimming pool. It was a pleasant change, as the weather was not particularly kind to us this year and temperatures were quite low. Standard rehabilitation took place there, followed by free time, in which the leaders also fully participated. On the way back to Zubří, the bus fell rather quiet, as the passengers were pleasantly exhausted from the water fun. We also visited Tišnov, where another stage game was prepared under the leadership of our dear Jana Kalábová. As a reward for a job well done, everyone received an ice cream and we went to a film at the open-air cinema. For dinner, the children roasted sausages, snuggled into their sleeping bags, and enjoyed a summer film evening. On the way back to camp, the bus fell silent again and almost everyone fell asleep. However, the peaceful evening was livened up by a night game that awaited the children upon arrival.

The last camp evening was marked by farewells, celebrations of team victories over each other and over Wilkinson himself. During the evening, talents also emerged in the form of musicians and dancers, and even though it was just one week, the farewell was just as hard as after a traditional 14-day camp.

From us, a few closing words -- the children deserve great thanks and praise for how well-behaved, diligent, and this year perhaps more than ever, helpful to each other they can be. Admiration goes to the leaders, doctors, and nurse for still having plenty of energy and determination to dedicate themselves to the entire camp during these few days of the year. It is an honour for both of us to work with this entire, we dare say, best team, which also includes our excellent colleagues from rehabilitation. Finally, we would like to thank the management of the Zubří Recreational Complex for making our transition to a new environment so easy and accommodating us in every way. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

Táňa VLKOVÁ and Bára PITŘÍKOVÁ, physiotherapists.

Photo: Katarína KURÁKOVÁ, Petr HRICKO