My name is Jayden McCroskey and I am a sophomore in high school. I have two younger siblings, Alivia and Camden. My brother Camden is a heart kid. I am on the Camp LUCK Youth Board because I get the opportunities to make the camp that I fell in love with a better place.
This program matches new heart parents, who are just beginning their journey, with a Parent LUCK Network volunteer, who has a child with similar conditions. The volunteers are eager to listen, provide emotional support and help new heart parents understand that they are not alone. It is our hope, that these volunteers can be an ongoing resource for parents with questions or concerns.
If you are interested in the Parent Support Network, please contact Erin Shaw at connect@campLUCK.com.
Camp LUCK, in conjunction with the Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute pediatric office and Novant Pediatric Cardiology, is involved in an ongoing effort to distribute gently-worn clothing and other baby items to heart families in need. The members of Camp LUCK know how incredibly difficult it is to have a very sick child, without the added complication of not being able to provide adequate clothing for that child. In this small way we hope to make a difference in the lives of these very special heart families.
If you have gently-worn or gently-used children’s items that you would like to donate, please contact MoreThanACamp@CampLUCK.com.
Baby LUCK services the families of the youngest members of our heart community (under age 7). Meetings are scheduled on a bi-monthly basis and include entertainment for the kids and activities for the parents. It’s a great opportunity to share experiences about living with CHD.
To receive future communications about Baby LUCK and Baby LUCK events, be sure to sign up for our mailing list.
For more information, contact BabyLUCK@CampLUCK.com.
Every other month, Camp LUCK hosts a dinner where guest speakers share their experience regarding a host of issues related to the many important facets of CHD health care – cardiology (pediatric and adult) heart surgery, dental care, psychology, nutrition, holistic medicine, education, heart parents and heart kids. We feel that it is important that all of these voices are heard as we work toward our common goal of improving the quality of life for children living with CHD, their parents, and families.
My name is Chase Collins and I am 12 years old. My sister, Cassidy, has a heart defect. The reason that I love Camp LUCK so much is because of the friends that I have there and the skills that I have learned and been able to teach others. The friends I have made over the years have turned into family and I want others to feel the same way. I joined the Youth Board to be able to support Camp LUCK and make it a better place for all to have this same feeling and process; whether you have a heart condition or not.
I’m Mattie Polen. I am part of the Camp LUCK Youth Board. I have been part of Camp LUCK for six years and have been on the Youth Board for about three years. I love Camp LUCK and want to help make it as great as it can possibly be.
Hi! My name is Kaylin Nolan and I am one of the new members of the Camp LUCK Youth Board. I am a sibling. I absolutely love Camp LUCK because of the community that has grown from it and how they are always open armed to newcomers. I want to serve on the board because I want to help the people who have made everything that has happened in my family easier. I look forward to meeting everyone and being here to support you.
Seri Paquette is senior at Southlake Christian Academy. She has loved being on the Youth Board since the beginning because it has allowed her be more involved in Camp LUCK. Seri loves the Camp LUCK community.
Jay Myers is a proud husband and father of two children. He and his family are committed to supporting the interests of heart children through the mission of Camp LUCK. Jay is the SAP Ariba Director of Financial Services for Value Engineering.
Chris is the father of three girls – Sarah, Anna and Mary (heart child). He has been a Steering Committee member for Levine Cardiac Kids since its inception and thrilled to be a part of Camp LUCK!
Nicola Roark is a former production and product development manager from the textile industry. Currently, she works as a teaching assistant with 3rd graders and has two children, Olivia and Camden (heart kid). Camp Luck has been a wonderful support network for the Roark family, and Nicola wants to return that support to others.
Irene is a REMAX realtor and mother of three children – Maria, Dimitri (HLHS) and Christina. Outside of family and work, she enjoys playing tennis and golf. She has been active in her church with youth and local missions. Irene is very excited now to be part of the Camp LUCK family – so excited that it makes her heart “skip” – for the opportunities and support Camp LUCK provides families like hers!
Sara serves as the liaison for Baby Luck. She is a mom of two children, Easton and Adelaide (TOF). She is proud to serve such an incredible group of heart kids and their families.
Hunter Jackson is a Senior Manager with Grant Thornton LLP, and serves Camp LUCK as the Treasurer. He has two wild little boys, Gray (heart kid/transplant) and West. He is thankful for the heart family that Camp LUCK has provided and is proud to give back to such an awesome community of warriors!
Bryon is a Special Counsel, in the Charlotte office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, specializing in complex commercial lending transactions. Bryon is the proud father of a 6 year old boy with a congenital heart defect.
Kim is the mother of Jacob (heart child) and McKenzie. She is a former office manager and radiologic technologist. Kim and Jacob were very passionate about raising awareness of congenital heart disease and volunteered many hours together in the congenital heart community. Jacob endured numerous heart surgeries and procedures during his lifetime, but passed away from complications of open heart surgery in December 2010.
Dr. René is the Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at the Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute. He has worked at Camp Cherokee for more than 35 years, currently as Health Care Administrator and formerly as Assistant Camp Director. Dr. Herlong wanted to offer a resident camping experience to his patients and is very excited to have been able to help make this a reality at Camp LUCK.
Adrienne is a heart mom and has been an active volunteer with both Levine Cardiac Kids and Camp LUCK since their inception. She has served on both the Board of Directors and Operations Committee of each organization. Adrienne feels honored to act as President of Camp LUCK. She truly believes in the programs that it offers as her family has personally seen the benefits of being a part of this heart community.
