Jordyn Climbs Over Her Fears

Looking up at the rock wall, Jordyn felt small.

She was just 7 years old, after all. Was she too little to take on this challenge? Too weak? Too different?

With some encouragement from her fellow campers and a steady hand from her dad, Jordyn timidly placed one foot on the wall, and then the other. Soon, Jordyn climbed higher than her dad could reach. The rest of this climb would require her to lean on her own strength.

At that moment, Jordyn’s bravery kicked in.

She climbed and climbed, eventually reaching the top. She peered down as loud cheers erupted! Her fellow campers and their families couldn’t hold back their excitement for Jordyn’s victory.

Her ear-to-ear smile reflected the deep pride she felt in her accomplishment, in herself.

Encouraged by the cheers from below, Jordyn chose to walk the tightrope over to the zipline starting point. Then, she took flight – soaring down the zipline and back into the arms of her mom and dad.

This experience was just one of many at ShrineABILITY Camp, a weekend experience organized by Shriners Children’s St. Louis for patients who live with upper extremity differences. The children, and their families, take on challenges like the rock wall, archery, horseback riding and canoeing. The camp environment offers a safe space for patients to build confidence in their own abilities and for families, who have children living with a hand or arm difference, to find solidarity.

For example, Jordyn climbed a rock wall that stands nearly three stories tall. She lives with only a single hand. That day, Jordyn conquered her fear and discovered just how high she could go.

“Those are the moments that we do this for. To watch the campers grow in their confidence in how they live their life with a limb difference,” reflected Michelle Cohen, occupational therapist at Shriners Children’s St. Louis.