Young camper with epilepsy finds independence at Rainbow Day Camp in Fredonia

FREDONIA, Wis. (CBS 58) — The Albert and Ann Deshur JCC Rainbow Day Camp in Fredonia is underway for the summer. Of the nearly 350 to 400 campers who participate, 6-year-old DJ Miller stands out.

“DJ is one of those kids that does not sit still. He runs everywhere. He’s got a big personality,” Camp Director Shelby Elias said.

CBS 58 followed the 6-year-old during a day at camp. Within minutes, he was running around and playing games as he told us about spending time with friends.

“He’s often described as a kid with an Energizer battery or a motor,” his mother, Brittany Miller, said. “He always says that his body feels like an engine and he’s ready to go.”

However, there have been moments in his life when DJ has had to slow down. At 4 years old, he was diagnosed with epilepsy.

“We started seeing these weird moments where he would just kind of shudder very quietly every so often, but we didn’t know what was happening,” Brittany Miller said.

At his worst, DJ was having more than 200 seizures a day and spent much of his young life in and out of hospitals.

“He would lose complete muscle tone over his body and just drop to the floor completely. It was scary. He couldn’t be near a kitchen table. He couldn’t climb on playground equipment or anything alone. I had to be next to him at all times,” Brittany Miller said.

His mother said she wanted her son to participate in a summer program, but because of his medical needs, she believed that seemed unlikely. That changed when she met Rainbow Day Camp Executive Director Lenny Kass at a gym class DJ was attending.

The camp provided DJ with a personal health aide at no cost, creating a safe and inclusive environment where he could participate alongside his peers.

“We’ve tailored our program to make it so he can take a break or make it so that someone is watching should something happen,” Elias said. “We have worked very closely with his family to make sure that we can support him the best we can, but also make sure that he has the ability to be a kid.”

DJ's health has significantly improved since he was first diagnosed.

“Knowing that he has more independence and strength to do things on his own, it's amazing,” Brittany Miller said. “Not only to see your kid grow, but to lose all the ability and gain it all back, it's like watching your kid grow up again.”

While DJ's personality continues to shine, he is blending in more than ever before.

“We want every single kid to feel like they belong and to be part of something that’s bigger than them and know that they matter,” Elias said. “This is why I do my job.”

You can learn more about the Albert and Ann Deshur JCC Rainbow Day Camp on its website.