“We are outside, there are nurses who are there to monitor just in case. We are free, we are peaceful. I don’t think about the illness, about things like that. My heart is more at peace.” ~ Liloo
Growing Up With Short Bowel Syndrome
From the moment Liloo arrived at L’ENVOL, our SeriousFun camp in France, she found something special: a place where her medical needs were understood, she could try things on her own terms, and she could connect with other kids who understood her experience.
Now 16, Liloo has returned to camp every summer since. Over the years, camp has become much more than a week away from home.
It has become an anchor in her life.
Liloo lives with short bowel syndrome. She is tube-fed and needs frequent access to food throughout the day. At L’ENVOL, those needs are built into her camp experience.
A Camp Designed Around Her Medical Needs
The camp works closely with Liloo’s doctors and trained volunteer physicians, while activities are adapted around her medical device so she can participate fully. Even the small details matter—from discreet access to snacks to making nursing moments fun with colorful costumes and a festive atmosphere.
Together, those supports give Liloo the freedom to focus on something else: laughing, exploring, making friends, and joining in. This thoughtful coordination is more than medical care; it is an act of inclusion.
And summer after summer, those experiences have added up.
Camp Built Her Confidence and Independence
Liloo has grown in confidence and independence. Staff have watched her become more comfortable opening up to others and grow into an empathetic young leader. Camp gives her opportunities to participate on her own terms, build meaningful relationships, and experience the freedom she describes so powerfully herself.
More Room to Simply Be 16
Because when a child’s needs are anticipated and supported, managing a medical condition doesn’t have to take center stage. There is more room for Liloo to focus on friendship. On adventure. On having fun. On being 16.
And that can change far more than a week of summer.
That’s how Camp Changes Everything.
Frequently Asked Questions About Short Bowel Syndrome and Camp
Q: What is short bowel syndrome?
A: Short bowel syndrome is a condition in which the small intestine cannot absorb enough nutrients and fluids from food. It can occur when part of the small intestine is missing or has been surgically removed. Children living with short bowel syndrome may need specialized nutrition, frequent meals, medications, or tube feeding as part of their daily care.
Q: How do SeriousFun camps support children with short bowel syndrome?
With appropriate medical support and individualized planning, children living with short bowel syndrome can participate in camp activities. At SeriousFun camps, medical teams and program staff work together to understand each camper’s needs and adapt the experience so children can participate as fully and independently as possible.
Q: Can children who use feeding tubes attend SeriousFun camps?
Yes. SeriousFun camps serve children with a wide range of complex medical needs, including some children who use feeding tubes. Medical care, nutrition needs, and activity adaptations are incorporated into the camp experience so that campers can spend more of their time focusing on friends, activities, and fun.
Q: How do SeriousFun camps support children with complex medical needs?
SeriousFun camps combine specialized medical support with intentionally inclusive programming. Depending on a child’s needs, that may include medication management, nutritional support, access to medical professionals, adapted activities, and coordination with the child’s existing care team. The goal is to make medical support part of the environment, allowing the camper to experience freedom from reminders of their condition and just be kids.
