"Camp made me feel much more hopeful"
A newborn in Intensive Care
Adam spent the first six months of his life in an Intensive Care Unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, having had major open heart surgery just days after he was born.
During her pregnancy, doctors told Adam’s mum that they’d found a problem with her baby’s heart. The extent of the problem was realised when Adam was born with Complex Congenital Heart Disease. He was diagnosed with multiple serious heart conditions, including Hypoplasia of the Aorta, Ebsteins Anomaly, Multiple Ventricular Septal Defects and Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction.
Surgery on newborn Adam was a success, but due to the complexity of his heart condition, Adam soon needed a second operation. Doctors were less confident that this one would be a success; they’d never attempted it on a baby as young and small as Adam was. Thankfully, the surgery went well. Even so, Adam spent many months hooked up to machines and being fed via a nasal tube.
Living with a heart condition
When he was finally discharged, Adam managed to spend most his childhood out of hospital, except for regular check-ups, and two further procedures when he was 11 & 12 years old. Despite avoiding more lengthy hospital stays, Adam’s daily life has always been affected by his condition. Shortness of breath, chest pain, and not being able to do strenuous exercise are all examples of the things Adam continues to face. His general health is compromised, and minor illnesses like coughs and colds, could make him seriously unwell.
As well as the physical impact, Adam says there are other ways that his condition has affected him. While growing up, he struggled with anxiety about his health and diagnosis – medical appointments and hospital visits were particularly nerve-wracking for him. Adam also describes how he felt like an ‘outsider’ at school and amongst his peers. His large surgery scars attracted attention, and he was often asked about them. All of this affected how Adam saw himself and made him a shy child and teenager.
Discovering Over The Wall Camp
To help Adam overcome some of the challenges he was facing, his doctor referred him to Over The Wall Camp. Despite being unsure, Adam and his family applied for his place at camp – a decision which Adam says had a ‘massive positive impact’ on his life.
Getting ready for his first camp at eleven years old, Adam remembers feeling nervous. But as soon as he’d experienced the mischief and magic that Over The Wall Camp creates, he wanted to come back as soon as possible! Adam told us how he used to count down the days until he could apply for camp the following year.
Adam said “During camp I felt free to be who I wanted to be and not worry. I could just focus on making friends and having fun. Every camp made me happy, and after each one, I would always reminisce and tell all my friends about how special it was.”
As well as enjoying all the fun activities, something Adam loved about camp was being able to meet other children and young people with health challenges. Adam happily told us, “At camp, I made many friends who I stayed in contact with and now consider friends for life.”
Adam also shared a memory with us from his final time as a camper in 2019: “For the final song at the disco, my camp team and I sang ‘You’ve got a friend in me’ from Toy Story, whilst huddling in a circle. It was a special moment that I will never forget.”
The impact of camp
After his last camp, Adam reflected on the impact his experiences with Over The Wall Camp had had on him: “I feel like camp made me feel much more hopeful and accepting of life, and to just live it to the fullest, having as much fun as possible. Camp really got me through some tough times, and for that I am so thankful.”
Heading towards adulthood, Adam was feeling more confident and independent, and able to take care of his medical needs. He shared how he learnt to navigate hospital appointments, make decisions and become more accepting of his condition. Adam now also loves his scars and feels proud of who he is and what he’s achieved.
Returning as a volunteer
It didn’t take much time for Adam to decide he wanted to volunteer at camp when he could. This year, 2025, Adam stepped back through the doors at an Over The Wall Camp residential, to “try to bring the joy and smiles that camp brought me to other campers.”
Emily, Camp Director and Head of Volunteering, said “Adam puts campers at the heart of everything he does, to ensure they have the best experience. He’s thrown himself into camp-life with such enthusiasm and energy and is rarely seen without beautifully painted artwork on his face! Adam is an absolute joy to have at camp, and we can’t wait to see where his volunteer journey takes him!”
Adam reflected on how his journey with Over The Wall Camp has come full circle, with him now in this exciting new chapter as a volunteer. “Now as a volunteer, I am still so grateful that Over The Wall Camp exists. Being able to be part of a community that helps young children grow and achieve their dreams whilst smiling, laughing and having fun is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.”
As both a camper and a volunteer, Adam says that camp reminds him “that there is always sun after it rains.”