The Camp No Limits dream all started with a little boy named Nicholas.

 I (Mary Leighton) was a new graduate occupational therapist that had just taken a job back in Maine at Therapy Corner (private pediatric therapy clinic).  Our office had a referral for a 2 ½ year old little boy missing 3 limbs.  No one in the office had experience working with individuals with limb loss and we were all hesitant to take the referral.  Nevertheless myself and the physical therapist Jen Shultz took on the challenge.  The first day Nicholas came into the office our lives changed.  This was the day my career as an occupational therapist really began.   Nicholas had the biggest smile and a spark in his eye.  He had determination and the willingness to learn.  Jen and I sat and watched Nicholas play in our treatment room.  He was able to get up the slide by way of the stairs, and slide down with not even one prosthesis.  He was able to pick up a ball and throw it and stack 2 inch blocks 10 blocks high.  Nicholas was willing to try anything we asked him and it was from him that I learned what was really important in life.  Our office then made a referral to a local prosthetic office to determine our next plan of action for this little boy.  Scott Hebert from Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics came into our office and this was the beginning of our “team”.  Scott educated us on what type of prosthetics we would use with him and how these prosthetics would work.  Nicholas received his new prosthetics at the age of 3 and our work began!  It was with Jen and I that Nicholas took his first steps. He learned to wash his face and feed himself with his prosthetics and he quickly learned to hop and skip.  It was also amazing to watch him write his name for the first time.  It was the team of therapists and the prosthetists that all worked together to make sure Nicholas had everything that he needed so that he could accomplish all his developmental milestones on time.  Nicholas was determined to accomplish anything that we challenged him with and it was at this point that I realized I never wanted this boy to lose his drive to succeed and to realize there should never be “limits” put on him.  It was clear that Nicholas was a very special young boy and he became very special to me.  I learned so much from him than I ever thought was possible.  I learned that being different and living with a “challenge” is not always a bad thing.  Life is full of challenges and obstacles.  I learned that “picture perfect” is not reality and just because things do not happen in the most perfect and “normal” way it does not mean that it is not worthwhile or of value to our lives.  Nicholas may not have been born with 10 fingers and 10 toes but if anyone asks me who I think is the most perfect little boy I will always say Nicholas! 

In 2004 brainstorming of how to educate others with limb loss about the possibilities out there began.  It was Bambi Lombardi (from Otto Bock Health Care), a fellow occupational therapist that said to me, “Mary, why not have a camp to educate other children and families on the importance of physical and occupational therapy and what prosthetic options are available?”  I thought...”well why not?”  I searched around and realized there really was nothing of its kind available in the area so...”Maybe Bambi is right”...This led me to Pine Tree Camp, Rome, Maine one spring morning in May 2004.  I met with Dawn Willard-Robinson and I told her about my idea and Dawn showed me around the facility and said “Sure!  I think it would be great!  Let’s give it a try.”  With the help of my fellow coworkers from Therapy Corner we planned our camping experience for the last weekend in August 2004!  We had 5 campers attending (2 of them being my patients) but it was a success and this was the start of the dream!  In 2005 during planning for our next camp Scott Hebert said to me “You really need to meet this physical therapist Kim.  She is a great therapist and I think you two would be the perfect match.  Kim has experience with lower limb prosthetic training and would surely be an asset to the camp.”  Kim and I did finally meet in 2005 and this was also the year that Carrie Davis (representative for the upper extremity program for Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics and congenital amputee) came to our camp in Maine!  It was at this point that this dream became reality and it was in 2005 that so many people felt the connection to this special dream and as they say the rest is history!  With the help of so many special volunteers and so many special families our camp continues to grow…not only in Maine but now nationwide!  Camp No Limits is now touching lives in California, Idaho, Maine, and Florida!  ^{In 2009 we are planning our 5th}location for St. Louis, Missouri.  Our vision now is “to be the leading campfor young people with limb loss, in the United States and abroad, recognized for camper satisfaction, age specific physical and social skill development, amputee education and peer support.”   

To think...a dream all started in the state of Maine with a little boy with a big heart!