Hope and Healing: Counseling Kids with Kidney Disease at Camp ChiMer

Kidney disease has been a constant in Lukas Chapman’s life. His father and brother had kidney failure. He was diagnosed with stage two kidney disease as a young teen. Despite the hardships, Lukas didn't let the disease change his positive mindset. Now an adult, he shares this hopeful attitude with children with kidney disease as a counselor at Camp ChiMer. 

A Family History of Kidney Disease

In 1998, when Lukas was three, his father passed away from complications related to kidney failure. His older brother, age eight, was diagnosed with kidney disease and then kidney failure that same year. 

"My brother was on dialysis until my mother donated a kidney to him when he was thirteen. It only lasted six months before he had to return to dialysis. When he was eighteen, my sister donated a kidney to him," Lukas said. "That transplant lasted a decade." 

When Lukas was fourteen, he received his own kidney disease diagnosis. 

"I was at a two-day summer football camp in 2009. I didn't feel great the first day but, on the second day, my legs cramped up enough to go to the hospital," Lukas said. "I was told I had a heat stroke. The tests also revealed I had kidney disease."

Five days and a biopsy later, Lukas went home. 

"Soon after I was discharged, my mom came home with tears in her eyes. She explained I had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and was in stage two kidney disease," said Lukas. "She asked if I was scared. I wasn't. I decided to use my diagnosis as a motive to live every day to the best of my abilities."

Lukas adjusted his diet and exercise routine while trying out different medications to protect his kidneys from further damage. 

"Changing my lifestyle and taking all that medication wasn't fun, but it saved my kidneys. We were able to figure out what worked and devise a game plan," Lukas said. "Fifteen years later and I'm still at stage two kidney disease and quite possibly healthier than I was when I was first diagnosed."

Do you have a child or adolescent with kidney disease? Find support at NKF's Community for Parents.

Making a Difference at Camp ChiMer

While Lukas never attended Camp ChiMer, a camp for children with kidney disease in Kansas City, Missouri, his older brother did. 

"He went for six years and loved it. It was always one of his favorite parts of the year," Lukas said. "After my freshman year in college, I volunteered as a counselor. It was amazing so I got an internship with the organization who ran the camp at the time."

The first year of Lukas's internship involved a lot of learning, but the second gave him hands-on experience planning the camp.

"The following year, I was hired for an official Camp role. I planned almost the entire Camp ChiMer experience," said Lukas. "I stayed employed there for three years before moving to a different job. I continued counseling until 2019 when my wife and I moved to a different state. That year, Camp ChiMer hired their first NKF Camp Manager so I knew I was leaving it in good hands.”

Leaving Camp ChiMer and moving may have been difficult for Lukas, but those were the least of his worries. His brother was diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer, years prior. In 2019, the cancer spread to other parts of his body.

"He passed away that year. It wasn't fair because he did everything right. Despite being diagnosed so young, he was always diligent with his health," Lukas said. "He was a father figure to me–he taught me baseball and introduced me to wrestling and video games. Losing him was very hard."

Learn more about Camp ChiMer.

Returning to Camp ChiMer

When Lukas and his wife returned to Missouri in 2021, he couldn't wait to start counseling at Camp ChiMer again.

"I love everything about Camp ChiMer and what it does for the children who attend. I was excited to return as a counselor even though the camp format changed to a day camp due to COVID-19," Lukas said. "I always look forward to our annual pool party. Most of the kids can’t be submerged in water without proper precautions due to the risk of infection. The amazing on-site healthcare staff ensures these precautions are followed so kids can safely swim."

Every time Lukas volunteers, he looks forward to reconnecting with old campers and meeting new ones. 

"These kids have kidney disease or kidney failure. Camp ChiMer shows them they don't have to stop being a kid. You don't have to sacrifice fun or enjoying life to take care of your illness," said Lukas. "Everyone at Camp ChiMer knows what each other is going through. It gives kids the opportunity to be themselves without feeling judged."

The spirit of fun and inclusion brings Lukas back time after time.

"While I can't speak to the exact experiences of these children, I do know what it is like to change your lifestyle, take medicine, and spend time in the hospital. I've also lost my father and brother to kidney disease," Lukas said. "It's my job to show these kids that you can live a happy life despite these challenges."

We need your help to give more kids with kidney disease a magical summer camp experience. Donate now, and Camp for Kids will match your gift! Don't miss your chance to give the gift of camp and see your support go twice as far!