Started nearly two decades ago, Camp Superstar is a special weekend camp in South Florida for children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate (birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy). For one unforgettable weekend, the campers participate in arts and crafts, dance parties, sports and karaoke and are reminded that “just because you have scars, that doesn’t mean you can’t smile.” The weekend also allows for parents to join with other parents and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital medical professionals to discuss their children’s conditions.
Many of these children face speech and language delays, difficulty eating, severe dental problems and many of them require complex craniofacial surgeries to repair these abnormalities. Moreover, they have to deal with alienation and bullying at school because of their facial disfigurements; it takes a toll on the child as well as their family. But at Camp Superstar, they are surrounded by other children going through these very same challenges and during the weekend, they learn and gain support from one another.
I had the opportunity to document this remarkable camp for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and watching these children and their families engage with one another is something I’ll never forget. Enjoy the video and please feel free to share and spread the word about this life-changing camp. Moreover, please consider making a gift today to help support Camp Superstar and help give more children born with cleft lips and cleft palates a better chance at life. Here’s the link: www.nicklauschildrens.org/superstar
Camp Superstar: A Special Camp for Children with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.
