Youth with special needs defied limitations during a sunny Tuesday at Miami Beach with help from the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Ventilation Assisted Children’s Center Camp, now in its 40th year. The VACC camp hosts a free week-long overnight adventure for youth who depend on tracheostomy ventilators, C-PAP, BiPAP or oxygen support. Families travel from across the country to participate in the program that includes swimming, field trips, entertainment, games and other activities.
“I would never be able to tell Gavin that we can’t come, so we drive about 22.5 - 23 hours to get here,” said Michelle Croce, a mother from New York whose 18-year-old son Gavin lives with nemaline myopathy. The rare genetic disorder causes weakness in breathing muscles and difficulty swallowing due to weak facial and throat muscles. Croce said her son looks forward to the camp more than Christmas week, and for someone who loves Christmas, that represents significant anticipation.
“This camp is open to everybody who wants to come, and it’s for free for the whole family … and they feel the difference, they feel care, not only care, but they can be like anybody else,” said Dr. Maria Franco, the VACC camp’s director and pediatric pulmonologist. Franco emphasized that children travel from all over to participate in the program. The camp provides specialized medical support while allowing participants to engage in typical recreational activities alongside their families.
Miami Beach Fire Rescue has provided crucial support for the camp’s water activities for more than two decades. “We’ve been involved for over 20 years,” said Victor White, Miami Beach Fire Rescue’s division training chief, who serves as part of the children’s support team. The fire rescue personnel help ensure safe water access for children who require specialized medical equipment and monitoring.
Yanisha Plante attended with her three-year-old son Jhani, who lives with obstructive sleep apnea requiring oral appliances to keep his airway open. “I was so happy when they told me that they would have firefighters here, to be able to bring him in the water, because he is not used to this,” Plante said. “So, every time I took him to the beach, he had to play in the sand.” The specialized support allows children like Jhani to experience water activities that would otherwise be impossible.
“It’s amazing as a mom just to see this,” Croce said, reflecting on watching her son participate in activities alongside other children with similar medical needs. The program focuses on helping children work on social skills through structured activities and free play opportunities. White noted that throughout his 20-year involvement, the camp has continued to improve and expand its offerings for participating families.