"It's a chance for these kids to just be kids," said Camp Odayin

Executive Director Sara Sanders. They all know what being a heart patient is like, and so the medications and large chest scars weren't a big deal. They

were all there to swim, ride bikes and horses, and do other ordinary summer camp things that they may have otherwise never been able to do.

Sanders knows what it's like to make many visits to the emergency room with her heart pounding and racing for long periods. She was diagnosed with heart problems at age 13 and currently has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator that acts like a built-in emergency room to correct an abnormal heart rhythm if it becomes life-threatening.

Now she's a 31-year-old camp lover from St. Paul who believes every child should have the opportunity to benefit from a summer camping experience.

The children were able to attend Camp Odayin because it was a medically safe environment. Camp Knutson's new Health Services Building is fully cardiac equipped thanks to generous donations including two LIFEPAK automated external defibrillators provided by Medtronic.

In addition to an outstanding new facility and equipment, Camp Odayin was staffed with two cardiologists, five nurses and five nursing assistants; all ready to respond to any emergencies. Fortunately, there were no serious

emergencies, however.

There were still 55 visits to the Health Services Building by noon Thursday. "Nothing serious," said Nursing Director Janet Kaufenberg, "just the typical camp-related health issues -- bug bites and slivers."

The idea for Camp Odayin came to Sanders two years ago when she volunteered at a Camp del Corazon on Catalina Island in California. She stepped off the plane on her return home and began thinking about offering a camp in Minnesota.

"There's a need for this in the Midwest," she said. Before Camp Odayin,

similar camps were found only at Camp del Corazon, Camp Bon Coeur in Grand Coteau, La., and on the East Coast.

Children came from all over the upper Midwest to attend Camp Odayin -- Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan. A group of nine kids came from the University of Michigan's Congenital Heart Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Every year 32,000 children are born with congenital heart defects, 650 of

them in Minnesota. At Camp Odayin, 15 campers had artificial valves, eight had pacemakers, four or five had defibrillators, another four or five had transplants and one was just put on the transplant list. Three children had to cancel their camp experience because of health reasons before they even got there.

Staff also came from a variety of locations and backgrounds. Crosslake

resident and heart transplant patient Paul Kohl was eager to volunteer as a

counselor at the camp. Ryan MacLean, assistant coach of the women's soccer program at University of Minnesota-Duluth, only heard about Camp Odayin three weeks before it started. An experienced soccer camp counselor, this was his first camp like this. His father suffered a heart attack four years ago, followed by a triple bypass. "The organization [at Camp Odayin] is outstanding," MacLean said. "There's a great staff of volunteers."

How was this first camp experience for Camp Odayin? "Better than I ever

thought it would be," said Sanders. "We'll do it again next year for

sure. Depending on the numbers, we'll possibly have two sessions, one for

elementary children and another for teens."

Rob Larson, director of Camp Knutson, felt privileged to host Camp Odayin, after being chosen as the location from 12 or 13 camps Sanders visited.

"Camp Odayin is the best organized camp we've had all summer," he said, giving credit to Camp Odayin staff as well as Knutson's own camp director, Kate Williams. "Twenty-five of the kids showed up for the 7 a.m. Polar Swim. Nobody ever shows up for the Polar Swim!"

Camp Odayin's mission is to "strive to create a stigma-free environment for young people with heart disease to enhance self concept, develop and

maintain a healthy lifestyle, and enjoy a well-rounded summer camp

experience regardless of socioeconomic status. "This is accomplished

completely through corporate and private donations as well as fund-raisers.

Campers paid only a $25 registration fee to attend the camp. For more

information on Camp Odayin, call 866-9ODAYIN or visit www.campodayin.org.