Meet Dr Zoe Johnson, a children’s doctor and Over The Wall Camp superstar!
Dr Zoe graduated from Cardiff University medical school in 2019. She now lives in South Wales and works as a paediatric registrar.
As she approaches the halfway point of her training to become a consultant, Dr Zoe is very busy! But that doesn’t stop her going above and beyond for her patients and other children living with health conditions and disabilities. Not only does Dr Zoe refer her patients to benefit from Over The Wall Camp, she also volunteers at our residential camps.
The first time Dr Zoe stepped into the camp bubble...
Dr Zoe first volunteered at camp in 2019. She heard about Over The Wall Camp at work and applied to volunteer. Soon, Dr Zoe was covered in face paint and glitter, and dancing her way around camp with 60 campers, 50 other volunteers and the Over The Wall Camp staff team.
At the end of that first camp, Dr Zoe told us, “I see a room full of children who can just be children without giving their health challenge a second thought.” Amongst Dr. Zoe and her fellow volunteers, a few tears were shed as they took a step back and saw the magic they’d help create.
Every year since, Dr Zoe has returned to camp as a valued member of the volunteer medical team, working alongside other doctors, nurses, and paramedics.
Dr Zoe shared “I loved the opportunity to get to know the young people outside of their conditions. Seeing the attitude with which the campers embraced and loved every challenge thrown their way during the week was totally inspiring.”
How camp has changed how Dr Zoe works...
As she explained, a lot changed when Dr Zoe went back to work after her first camp:
“I can honestly say that Over The Wall Camp has changed the way I will practice as a doctor and the way I will see our young patients. So, the next time I am on a nightshift and struggling to cannulate a complex teenager, or I am on the ward feeling tired and trying to organise a discharge for a child with a variety of health conditions, I have a clear image in my head of why we do what we do. We work hard so these children can be well enough to climb a rock-climbing wall, scream their way down a zip wire or escape from an escape room for the first time, and everyone can play their part in creating that magic.”
“As a doctor, I think I can sometimes get into the habit of telling my patients what I’d recommend they didn’t do, or what they could struggle with because of their diagnosis. Camp has shown me how to change this narrative and gives the young people a week where they are told what they can do and how amazing they can be. It’s totally changed the way I communicate with my patients in clinic.”
Sharing the magic of camp with her patients
Straight after her first week at camp, Dr Zoe started referring her patients to benefit from Over The Wall Camp.
Brilliantly, Dr Zoe told us that she’s trying to make referral part of her everyday practice. She said, “The form is so simple; it can be tagged onto the end of any clinic. Once it’s integrated in your practice, it really isn’t much extra time at all.”
“I think the young people really appreciate you thinking about them as more than a collection of medical needs, and their doctor thinking about how they can get down a zip line at camp!”
Those couple of minutes making a referral leads to a transformational week full of magical moments for her patients. Zoe spoke about what those moments of magic mean to them:
“Camp is so important to these young people. Camp is an environment where, often for the first time in their lives, our young people don’t feel defined by their diagnosis.”
“For many of our young people, it is the first time that they have able to explore new and exciting activities such as ‘rock’ climbing without fear of their health challenge limiting them, and it is magical to see their confidence blossom. Many have never met another young person facing a health challenge and it is wonderful to see them sharing their stories and supporting each other.”
Seeing her patients ‘glowing with pride’ from camp
When they’ve been to camp, Dr Zoe says her patients return different people, as do their parents! “All of them come back glowing with pride at what they’ve managed to do, the friends they’ve made and the experiences they’ve had.”
One of Dr Zoe’s patients hadn’t been able to go on his school residential trip because of his health challenges, but proudly came back from camp telling all his school friends how he had been to a ‘much better camp’. Dr Zoe said, “I think this really gave him a sense of identity and belonging when he’d previously been left out.”
Another camper’s parents told Dr Zoe they came back amazed at what they could do themselves, as previously, their parents had always done their medications and treatments for them at home.
“Families love seeing the change in their young people.” said Dr Zoe.
Hearing from Oscar and Hannah, who were referred to Over The Wall Camp by Dr Zoe
Oscar is a busy and energetic 10-year-old. Dr Zoe met him when he was admitted to hospital as an emergency following a seizure. Oscar was in the High Dependency Unit and was soon given a life-changing diagnosis of epilepsy. “Oscar was really unwell, upset and confused about what his life would be like with this new diagnosis,” she said. Dr Zoe thought that when he was better, camp would be perfect for Oscar. A year later, she heard from a colleague that Oscar was facing some challenges: “I heard from a member of the team how much Oscar was struggling with coming to terms with his diagnosis and the ongoing symptoms it was giving him.”
And these things were also affecting Hannah, Oscar’s sister:
“Hannah had found the process of Oscar’s diagnosis difficult and was desperate to meet another sibling going through a similar thing. I knew they were both perfect for Over The Wall Camp and I wanted them to have the opportunity to meet others like them and realise that they’re not alone.”
Straight away, Dr Zoe referred them for a week of mischief and magic at camp. Although their mum, Kim, was scared about them going away for a week, she applied for their places at camp. Then, in summer 2024, we welcomed Oscar and Hannah to our Midlands Health Challenge and Siblings Camp. We loved hearing from Kim about the impact camp has had on the siblings:
“We are so grateful that Oscar was referred… Camp had really helped Oscar to grow and develop. Since camp he is willing to try so much more.
“I was nervous because Hannah was reluctant. But Hannah loved the camp so much she wants to go again!”
Glowing with pride after camp, Oscar told us “I learnt that I can be brave”. And, he shared that the best thing about his time at camp was making new friends. Talking about her camp experience, Hannah said “It made me feel great because I could be myself.”
You can read more about Oscar and Hannah’s story by clicking here.
Spreading the mischief and magic
We love hearing about camp’s impact on our volunteers as well as our campers. And we’re so grateful that Dr Zoe helps her patients access the magic of camp! From everyone at Over The Wall Camp, your fellow volunteers, and all the campers you’ve referred, thank you for being a superstar, Dr Zoe!
