A Wisconsin woman who suffered traumatic burns as a child is giving back to the summer camp that gave her confidence.
When Tanya Bolchen was four months old, she suffered severe burns all over her body in a house fire that, tragically, took her father's life.
After years of surgeries, Tanya longed for a sense of normalcy. That's when she joined the summer camp for burned injured youth, a Wisconsin camp that gives child burn victims a boost of confidence and a chance at normalcy
Years later, Tanya is now a camp counselor to make sure other kids have the same experience she had.
“The first year at camp was just like a reprieve," Tanya said. "No one is staring at your that you're different. you're just like everyone else. and just, it's a chance to just be a kid. you don't have to worry about oh are they looking at my scars. If I’m wearing my swimsuit, they can see all of them. It’s just a chance to be like everyone else.”
The camp, held at Camp Timber-lee, south of Milwaukee, is open to children 7 to 17. This is the first year the camp is back to a full week since the start of the pandemic but they're searching for volunteers to help keep the camp running. Those interested in more information can click here.
