We are delighted to have Dr George Forgan Smith as our RCUBED guest interview this month. He is a GP from northern NSW and a GP who has fun at Camp Quality. This is one of the ways George balances his life. He also has a mid week weekend every week! Camp Quality is the children’s cancer charity that brings optimism and happiness to children with cancer through ‘fun therapy’. Listen to an interview with George and read his about his Camp experiences.

Listen here…

Dear Colleague,

I write this article with a heavy heart knowing that one of

my good friends is currently unwell and in hospital. I hope that Ben will not mind being mentioned but to me he has been the strongest memory I carry from my most exciting and enjoyable work at Camp Quality, a specialized organisatiuon who’s primary aim is to bring hope and happiness to children and their families living with cancer.

Ben is not your typical camp quality attendee, but he certainly embodies the hope and aspirations that Vera Entwistle, the founder of Camp Quality, had when she saw the need for support and fun for children living with major

illness.

At the tender age of 10 Ben is a slight 14kg, living with marked physical, cognitive and medical challenges. Ben also has a passion for cars, a good laugh, and it would seem he is quite comfortable in playing the clown. Today burned into my memory are- his laughs and smiles as he spent over an hour pushing me into a freezing pool; his tears as we encouraged him to have his medicine; and his reassuring pat on my back as I cried, worried about his health…

It is these memories

that I carry from my work at camp quality, certainly an experience I never expected to have when working in a busy GP practice.
I have to admit it was with great trepidation that I replied to an email sent to seek a replacement doctor when their usual doctor had been called to London.
Much like my colleagues I spoke with, I was concerned that I did not possess the skills needed to care for children living with cancer. It is only now that I realize that while keeping up to date with current chemotherapy is useful, it was the skills of communications, compassion and caring that were the most

utilized.

While I would love to say that I was able to provide these skills in abundance, I was fortunate to be surrounded by my own team of carers that helped and guided not only myself, but the amazing group of volunteers that had elected to take one week out of their life to give a “time of their life” experience to the children attending this camp.

For many of the children attending camp, it is the time of their life. We the carers are equally fortunate to be able to have been witness to their joy.
So it was with moderate “butterflies” I took to the challenge of providing medical care to not only 42 children, but also the volunteers that attended. Added to my concern was the additional twist of camp this year being hosted on an island, 15 minutes away via boat, and an

additional 15 minutes of driving to get to the hospital. Being the obsessive, “type A” personality that seems to be abundantly popular in doctors, I prepared for the worst, and of course prayed for the best!

Thankfully the latter won!

Arriving before the campers, I had the opportunity to set up my dream clinic, complete with relaxing couches, enough lollies to skink a ship and a cool water dispenser that became a focal point for campers topping up for their various adventures.

Of course we were also armed with a barrage of medications, antibiotics, dressings, an oncology nurse, a paediatric nurse, an emergency nurse. Oh and the camp leader? He was a paramedic. Needless to say we had our bases covered.

So we

had the medical side licked… Now we just needed some people to care for!

I can still remember my heart pounding when the first boatload of campers arrived.

Having walked in cold, I really did not know the many strong and lasting relationships that had already been formed. By the end of the day I had been taken in, welcomed to the family and christened “Dr George” the ‘go to’ guy for your medical needs.

To be honest from here forward it was pretty much a flurry. Between helping dose medications, providing first aid, advice and a listening ear, I was able to check out the activities, play with the kids, and get to know the amazing adults, or companions in CQ language, who had devoted themselves to supporting the campers 24/7 for a week. Quite a task that I acknowledge I would find very challenging indeed!

It was through the companions I learnt the true spirit of Camp Quality.

Each companion had their own special story, their own particular calling, all different, each tied in a theme of love, devotion and the amazing feelings it is to care, to serve and to share the amazing journey these children treck.

Thankfully many of the campers are healthy, fit and stronger for their experience. Some are still travelling. Sadly not all will complete their journey in they way the world dreams. It is my hope, and that of all the staff of Camp Quality that no matter the destination, that the journey was one of joy and happiness interjected with some laughter, fun and a bloody good water bomb fight…

For me I take away some amazing learning experiences. I have learned the amazing strength, wisdom and tenacity these children can demonstrate when they live in a world that is less then perfect.

I have learned that despite all the horror, shock and evil we are

fed daily by the

media, there are wonderful caring people who are able to put their own comfort behind to help support the future generation.

I have learned that medicine is far more exciting and wonderful then exams, textbooks and dodging drug seeking patients… I have learned that medicine, the true role of caring, flows from the heart no matter the outcome…

Naturally it took a while to come back to my regular work after such an amazing experience. In talking with my mentor Chris he shared the following idea…
“If each and every doctor was to take just one week from their life each year to serve, can you imagine how amazing the world would be?”

My question is, how will you spend your week?

If you would like to read more from Dr George or find out about Camp Quality please send him an email: gefsmith@mac.com.

P.S. The update on Ben is that he is happy, has gained 3 Kg and now has a nice thick head of hair. As George says – “I knew he was well when we had an animated balloon fight and he was smiling like a Cheshire cat”.