After he lost 25 pounds Oskar Wood was diagnosed with CrohnB次元官网网址檚 disease. He was only 11.

It was a tough time, recalls his mother, Vanessa Wood.

B次元官网网址淭here were many blood tests done,B次元官网网址� she said.

But it wasnB次元官网网址檛 just OskarB次元官网网址檚 blood they were testing. Wood said a diagnosis finally came after a colonoscopy. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 never easy, especially for a parent B次元官网网址� at least it gave us confirmation for what was going on.B次元官网网址�

Oskar was diagnosed in February of last year, but his trips to the doctors didnB次元官网网址檛 end there. B次元官网网址淟ast year he really struggled B次元官网网址� He was on some pretty heavy duty drugs that werenB次元官网网址檛 working,B次元官网网址� Wood said. After a lot of different trials, in December his doctors found a drug that seemed to work. B次元官网网址淣ow he travels every eight weeks to (B.C.B次元官网网址檚) ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital for an IV infusion,B次元官网网址� she noted.

While Oskar still has to take some oral drugs, the goal is that eventually he will be weaned off them. The hope, Wood said, is that her son can stay on the new medication for as long as his body will allow. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e heard of people being on it for eight or nine years,B次元官网网址� she noted. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e at seven months now and heB次元官网网址檚 doing really well.B次元官网网址�

The new medication has made all the difference for Oskar and his family. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like heB次元官网网址檚 a normal kid again,B次元官网网址� Wood said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really turned his life around.B次元官网网址�

Oskar turned 13 last week, but he has something else to look forward to this month. On July 23, the Metchosin resident will fly to Alberta to spend a week at Camp Got2Go. It will be his first time attending an overnight camp.

But Camp Got2Go isnB次元官网网址檛 just an ordinary summer camp.

CrohnB次元官网网址檚 and Colitis Canada, with the support of Janssen Inc., created the camp to give children from across Canada living with those diseases a chance to attend a camp designed specially for them.

B次元官网网址淚t looks like any other camp, except they have medical care,B次元官网网址� Wood said. B次元官网网址淚t makes me feel more comfortable as a parent knowing there is medical staff there.B次元官网网址�

While Wood said Oskar is a relatively low-key camper, in terms of required medical care, she did note there will be a number of campers that require a range of different treatments and apparatuses, including feeding tubes.

B次元官网网址淚 feel great he is going to have this experience and be safe,B次元官网网址� she added.

OskarB次元官网网址檚 excitement was hard to hide.

When asked what heB次元官网网址檚 looking forward to about the camp, he said, B次元官网网址渕eeting other kids with the same disease and connecting with them.B次元官网网址� He also has his eye on a ropes course and is looking forward to spending some time on the lake in canoes and kayaks.

When Oskar was diagnosed, Wood said, one of the first things they did was go to the CrohnB次元官网网址檚 and Colitis Canada website (). They immediately found a link to the camp.

B次元官网网址淭hat was what put a positive spin on this thing for Oskar.B次元官网网址� Seeing other kids having fun and playing gave them a lot of comfort during a difficult time. B次元官网网址淚t kind of made him feel like it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be so bad,B次元官网网址� Wood said. B次元官网网址淭here are opportunities for kids like Oskar to just be a kid.B次元官网网址�

She urges other parents to check out the website and find out more about Camp Got2Go. It has already made a difference in their lives.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com