HOSPITAL NOTED FOR AID TO HEAD-INJURY CAMP

St. Francis Medical Center was honored Monday for their support of a summer camp for survivors of head injuries.

The Missouri Head Injury Association honored the medical center, its physical rehabilitation department and neurosciences nurse Sue Cole prior to a meeting at St. Francis of a new Southeast Missouri Chapter of the Missouri Head Injury Association.

The camp, Wilderness Retreat, is the only recreational camp in the state for head injury survivors. The program is held at Wonderland Camp at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Yolanda Murphy, Wilderness Retreat program director, explained that the camp is funded through donations from organizations like St. Francis.

"The people who attend camp weren't born with the disabilities they now have," said Murphy. "It can happen to anyone. Most of our campers were involved in auto crashes, some in sports injuries, falls, any number of accidents that resulted in a blow to the head.

Two sessions of Wilderness Retreat camp are held each summer. The next session is Aug. 14-20. For information call 339-6901.

The new head injury chapter meets monthly and is sponsored by St. Francis Medical Center, Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff and the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.