Buttons the Clown and Little Buttons (the Camp Kemo Clown Bear) at CAMP KEMO.

Camp Kemo
The Center’s most recognized program is CAMP KEMO, a weeklong summer camp for patients with cancer, ages 5-18 and their siblings. Staffed by our physicians, nurses and volunteers, CAMP KEMO allows campers to swim, boat, hike, and simply be children. The fun times at CAMP KEMO lay important groundwork for future treatment as participants learn to trust, respect and relate to one another. CAMP KEMO is completely funded by community donations.

To apply or learn more about becoming a Camp Kemo volunteer, click here.

Call (803) 434-3503 for more information.

Click to see this years campers.

Camp New Horizons
Camp New Horizons is held on an October weekend for children who have lost a brother or sister to cancer or a blood disorder. It is sponsored by the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders of Palmetto Health Richland. Children from seven hospitals in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia participate in this unique camp which began in 1998. Camp New Horizons hopes to help children with the task of mourning. Through sharing their experience with children who have the same concerns, it is hoped that each child will gain strength as well as encouragement.

The focus of activities and interactions at Camp New Horizons is to assist each child in expressing his feelings, remembering the child who died, learning about grief, moving forward in life and building self esteem. Children accomplish this by participating in music, art and other fun activities as well as educational sessions.

If children are allowed to grieve when someone they love dies, then they will have a much better chance of growing into healthy adults. Although we can’t change the fact that they have lost a loved one or that their lives are changed forever, Camp New Horizons strives to be an experience that helps these children rediscover hope and joy in their lives.

Family Weekend
Many programs are specifically designed for families, including Family Weekend, a fall event for the families of newly diagnosed patients. While education is a primary goal, the weekend inspires relationships between families facing similar challenges.

Offered at Palmetto Health Richland.
Call (803) 434-3520 for more information.

Hemophilia Vocational Counseling Program
This program is designed to assist children with hemophilia. A career-counseling model focuses on social skill development, educating parents on legal and school protections and counseling on community resources. Instruction on parenting skills also is provided. Children may be enrolled at diagnosis.

Offered at Palmetto Health Richland.
Call (803) 434-3533 for more information

Lasting Impressions The adolescent years are especially trying for young cancer patients who experience physical changes and emotional upheaval as a result of a life-threatening disease and treatment. Lasting Impressions is a group for patients ages 13-19 that provides invaluable peer support during this critical time. Clinic days are scheduled so that members share lunch, a meeting and treatment on the same day. Parents meet concurrently for their own support group. In addition to a monthly newsletter, Lasting Impressions sponsors regular retreats. These are as simple as dinner and a movie or as exciting as a trip to Atlanta or Washington, D.C. Wherever they go, members make a point to reach out to other teens with cancer.

Offered at Palmetto Health Richland. Call (803) 434-3520 for more information. *Lasting Impressions was fully funded by Children’s Chance in 2004.

Lunch and Learn: Putting Illness in its Place
An eight-week series of educational discussion sessions for the parents of children and adolescents who have cancer or a blood disorder. This series includes topics on school issues, parenting, siblings, dealing with your own stress, family communication and faith and disease.

Offered at Palmetto Health Richland.
Call (803) 434-3520 for more information.

School Re-Entry
The goal of the school re-entry program is to reduce the impact of cancer treatment on a child’s classroom performance. The diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer presents many challenges to the diagnosed child and his family. The school re-entry program helps pave the road for children to return to school.

Call (803) 434-3520 for more information.

Sibling Day
Siblings Day is an opportunity for brothers and sisters of patients to tour the Center and other areas of the hospital, ask questions, and feel included in their sibling’s care.

Offered at Palmetto Health Richland.
Call (803) 434-3522 for more information.

Spiritual Care
Chaplains are available to provide spiritual support or connect patients and their families with a minister, rabbi, priest or faith-group leader.

The chapels at both campuses are open 24 hours a day for prayer and meditation.
Call (803) 434-7555 at Palmetto Health Richland for more information.
Call (803) 296-5455 at Palmetto Health Baptist for more information.

Toy Box Program
Children being treated for cancer and blood disorders must undergo many tests and procedures. The Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders of Palmetto Health Richland has incorporated a very popular program into each child's treatment plan. The Toy Box Program rewards children and adolescents for cooperating with necessary medical procedures. The program is based upon a principle that hard work is appreciated and rewarded. The patients earn coupons for "helping" with physical exams and painful procedures such as finger sticks and spinal taps. Five coupons can be redeemed for a prize valued at approximately $3, or l0 coupons can be redeemed for a prize worth
$5-$6. For adolescents,15 coupons may be exchanged for a Wal-Mart or Blockbuster $10 gift certificate.

As with all of our Center's psychosocial programs, the Toy Box Program is offered at no expense to our patients or their parents. We are always appreciative of toy or monetary donations to keep the toy boxes filled with surprises for our patients. "Shopping" in the toy boxes provides many happy memories for these special children. 

For more information about any of these programs, please contact Jeanne Schmidt at (803) 434-3503 or by e-mail Jeanne.Schmidt@PalmettoHealth.org