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| Ryan with Camp Director Jana Poche at the closing party of Camp Care 2011 |
In 1994 at eight years old, Ryan Maranto was diagnosed with leukemia. Ryan is now 25, working for Turner Industries, active in his church and an advocate for St. Jude. Thanks to programs like Cancer Services’ Camp Care, when he looks back on his childhood, he has memories outside of the endless stream of doctors, hospitals and treatments that dominated his early years. Ryan attended Cancer Services’ first ever Camp Care in 1995 and had the opportunity to stop by to camp this year to catch up on the program that meant so much to him.
Though the week-long summer day camp is filled with events taking place all over South Louisiana, Ryan’s favorite memories of Camp Care are the bus rides. He smiles talking about all the great times and fun moments on the bus and then laughs when he remembers first meeting Camp Director Jana Poche. “I was still in treatment and often felt sick in the mornings. The first day of camp I bounded on the bus all excited and immediately threw up on Jana.” But after that, Ryan was fine to accompany the rest of camp for the activities like going to the zoo, New Orleans and the aquarium and he truly had the priceless experience Camp Care is designed to be. 
Coming back to visit 16 years later, Ryan reunited with Jana and says it’s so great seeing the kids, a much larger group than when he attended, smiling and having a good time. “The name really says it all – “Camp Care” – they’re caring for these kids. You can’t forget that’s what it’s about.”
For more information about Cancer Services or Camp Care, visit our website or check out our Facebook page or call 225-927-2273.
