"Our summer camp brings joy and hope to kids' hearts!"

When Kimberlie Gamino couldn’t find a place where her son, Taylor, who had heart problems, could have fun, she decided to create one. Today, 20 years later, Camp Taylor offers medically supervised fun in the sun for hundreds of kids with cardiac issues every year

- Bill Holton

She made me sit with the kids in time-out I didn’t do anything wrong!” 8-year-old Taylor sobbed to his mom, Kimberlie Gamino, upset that his teacher didn’t let him play kickball with the other kids at recess that day.

Kimberlie sighed heavily. Taylor was born with just half of a heart. Five open-heart surgeries had saved his life. But sometimes, he grew overtired, and teachers worried about overstressing him.

If only there were activities he could do safely, Kimberlie thought, and scoured the Modesto, California, Central Valley looking for an adaptive sports league or other program for Taylor. But there were none, and this was the early 2000s, before Facebook and other social media that might have connected Kimberlie with other like-minded parents.

“What am I supposed to do?” she asked Taylor’s pediatric cardiologist. “Sit in the waiting room and wait for other parents so I can set up a playdate?”

The idea seemed outlandish, but Kimberlie knew she had to do something.

As she brainstormed, she thought about the Girl Scout camp she had attended in her youth. I had so much fun and made lifelong friends. Maybe I could start a special camp for Taylor and other kids like him!