P J has muscular dystrophy and first came to camp in 2004. Her mother, Karen, says her experience here is a factor in PJ’s approach to her life.  “Camp Barnabas encourages the kids to go for it and live life and it takes that sort of attitude to do these spelling bees, with all the studying and the actual onstage pressure.”

Last year, as a 7th grader, PJ lost the local spelling bee to her best friend and training partner, Theresa S., following a 45-minute spell-off between the two. Theresa came in third at the state competition and both were set to word it out again for the chance to go to D.C. this year. But, in August, Theresa’s dad was diagnosed with cancer and, as she and her family digested the news, Theresa realized what its impact would be on her spelling bee hopes. She came to PJ and said, “I’m  probably not going to do better than third this year, it’s your turn.” Theresa became PJ’s ex-officio coach.  

“On the five- hour trip to Great Bend, Theresa quizzed PJ over the Spell-It booklet until she knew it cold, “ Karen says. “ We had studied our 20 minutes at night and at school, Mrs. Bahr, PJ's incredibly dedicated literature and vocabulary teacher, stretched her during study hall and helped PJ study about 20 min most school days. We also combined spelling practice with PJ’s nightly exercises. PJ never has enjoyed the stretching she must do to maintain mobility in the face of her MD, so adding the spelling helped pass that time.

“But I know it was Theresa's on-the-road studying that helped put PJ over the top, because some of the words PJ got in the actual state bee, she missed the first time Theresa gave them to her.” After four hours of competition in early April, PJ emerged the winner.   

 “The first year PJ went to Barnabas, it was hard to let her go. She knew no one there!” Karen admits. “We had no personal recommendations – but PJ wanted to go and we let her. I think it was a very important step to help me not overprotect her and allow her to spread her wings a bit. And it has been awesome every year.”

Karen says PJ has made many friendships at camp that continue to this day. The longest and closest is with Katie N., PJ’s very first CIA. PJ was a junior bridesmaid in Katie’s wedding two years ago and Katie plans to join PJ and her family in Washington for the spelling bee. Theresa will be there, too.

“PJ is noticed often,” Karen says, “both because of her disability and her accomplishments. But the most notable thing about PJ is her kindness, thankfulness and the joy of living each and every day that she exudes.” The joy of living life to the fullest….in this case, one letter at a time.