A Week Outdoors, Without Worry of an Asthma Attack

Brandon has had asthma all his life, but it was not diagnosed until he suffered a traumatic attack when he was 2.

He started coughing and wheezing badly, and, as he was being driven to the hospital, he stopped breathing and began to turn blue. His mother gave him CPR to revive him. Because of his asthma, Brandon, now 8, has missed about 20 school days per year. None of the medicine he takes has kept him from waking up coughing at night at least two or three times a week.

Trips away from home have been rare, but this summer he had the chance to spend a week at SCAMP, the Southern California Asthma Medical Program in Julian in northern San Diego County.

The camp, sponsored by the American Lung Assn. of Orange County, allowed Brandon to enjoy such activities as hiking, canoeing and rock climbing. And the presence of more than 30 doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists allowed him to play freely, without fear of struggling alone with an asthma attack.

A $5,000 donation from the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Program helped the American Lung Assn. offer the SCAMP experience to asthmatic children this year.

Each year since 1954, readers and employees of the Los Angeles Times have sent thousands of needy children to camp through The Times Summer Camp Program. This year, the McCormick Tribune Foundation will match the first $1.2 million raised at 50 cents on the dollar.

It costs an average of $150 for a child to spend a week at summer camp. Checks should be sent to: L.A. Times Summer Camp Campaign, File No. 53401, Los Angeles, CA 90074-3401. For more information or to make credit card donations log on to https://www.latimes.com/summercamp, or call (213) 237-5771. Please do not send cash. All donations are tax-deductible. It is the policy of the Los Angeles Times and the camp program to maintain and promote a culture of nondiscrimination and inclusiveness.