Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I am so pleased, so pleased, to recognize the Miami Children's Hospital's Ventilator Assisted Children's Center Camp and congratulate them on their 25th anniversary. This extraordinary camp serves children who depend upon medical technology to breathe. It gives them a chance to just be kids for a week. Founded in 1986 by Dr. Moises Simpser, the camp has grown from serving 50 to over 250. This one magical week is the work of hundreds of volunteers and a year's worth of planning and preparation. The VACC Camp is the first of its kind in the Nation, and families come from across the country to participate. For this 1 week every year, children who are usually all but confined to their hospital rooms and their homes can experience camp activities and a near-normal life. Packed with activities and field trips, this week is a week of firsts: First-time dancing, first-time bowling, first-time swimming. VACC Camp is not about what the campers cannot do; it's about what they can do. Through a partnership with Shake-A-Leg Miami, the camp even developed a special sailboat that campers can steer with their chins, regardless of how much medical equipment they require. Other field trips include cruising on Biscayne Bay, shopping at Bayside Marketplace, a day at the beach, and lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Often this is the one time a year that these children have a chance to go outside in the fresh air and feel the sunshine on their faces.…”