THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT THE LEGACY OF PAUL KNEW MAN LIVES ON IN A SPECIAL CAMP ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS Dr.

KIRSTEN LYKE AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER AND PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING IN YOUR WORLD THE LATEST IS HANTAVIRUS CRUISE SHIP OUTBREAK, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ORIGINATES WITH ROW DENTS BUT APPARENTLY SOMETIMES SPREADS PERSON 0 TO PERSON.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT?

>> SO THIS IS A WHOLE COLLECTION OF VIRUSES.

THEY ARE HYPER REGIONAL.

AND THEY ARE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THEY CAN BE BASICALLY, DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS.

THE OLD WORLD WHICH IS ASIA, EUROPE, AND THE NEW WORLD, THE AMERICAS.

AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FEATURES.

THE NEW WORLD BY AND LARGE HAS A RESPIRATORY COMPONENT.

AND OF ALL OF THE WORLDWIDE VARIANTS OF THIS PARTICULAR VIRUS, THE ANDIES VIRUS COMING OUT OF ARGENTINA IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN SPREAD PERSON TO PERSON AND THAT IS UNCOMMON BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NOTABLE OUTBREAKS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF CONCERN WITH THIS CURRENT SITUATION?

>> ZERO.

I THINK IT'S ONE OFF.

IT'S SUPER INTERESTING AND, OF COURSE, THE LINK TO A CRUISE SHIP GETS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

BUT, I THINK, THE CRUISE SHIP IS AN INCIDENTAL PLAYER.

IT WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY WITHIN ARGENTINA THAT THE COUPLE THAT ORIGINATED ORIGINALLY CAME DOWN WITH THE ANDIES VARIANT PROBABLY ACQUIRED THE EXPOSURE AND THEN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME MEANT THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPOSED.

>> Jeff: DO PEOPLE HERE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT RODENT DROPPINGS, EITHER THINK ABOUT THE FALL WHEN MICE ARE TRYING TO GET INTO YOUR HOUSE.

OR YOU ARE DIGGING IN THE GARDEN AND YOU DON'T KNOW THERE IS A NEST THERE AND YOU HAVE SOME DEGREE OBVIOUSLY GO WASH YOUR HANDS.

IS IT ANY RISKIER THAN THAT?

>> YES, SO I MEAN IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HANTAVIRUSES THE SKINSES ARE LOW HERE ON THE EAST COAST.

RODENTS CAN CARRY OTHER VIRUSES.

YOU WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS.

BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HANTAVIRUS IT'S VERY UNLIKELY.

BUT THERE ARE REGIONAL EXCEPTIONS IN THE FOUR CORNERS AREA OR GOING HIKING IN COLORADO, ARIZONA NEW MEXICO THAT AREA, IF YOU ARE IN A SPACE THAT MAYBE MOUSE INFESTED THAT MEANS LIKE A CABIN YOU ARE HIKING CLOSE TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS WEAR A MASK AIR IT OUT FOR 30 MINUTES AND YOU DON'T VACUUM OR SWEEP YOU HAVE TO PUT WATER DOWN AND CLEAN IT OUT SO YOU DON'T AEROSOLIZE THAT BUST THAT IS WHERE THE RODENT FECES, URINE, SALIVA CAN SPREAD.

>> Jeff: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ON A CRUISE SHIP IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT CRUISE SHIPS PEOPLE WHO ARE RELUCTANT TO TAKE A CRUISE BECAUSE THEY'VE HEARD 100 STORIES ABOUT NORO VIRUS OUTBREAKS ARE NOT GOING TO BE REASSURED BY THIS HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK?

>> IT DOES SEEM TO BE THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PACKED INTO A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT AND NORO VIRUS WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT THOSE OUTBREAKS.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE CRUISE INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN THAT TO HEART AND THEY HAVE DONE A MUCH BETTER JOB IN RECENT YEARS OF HAVING SANITIZING PROCEDURES AND TRYING TO KEEP THOSE RISKS DOWN.

BUT, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST OUTBREAK OF COVID THAT REALLY CAPTURED THE WORLD'S ATTENTION WAS A CRUISE SHIP.

RESPIRATORY VIRUSES OR ANYTHING THAT CAN BE SPREAD BY A RESPIRATORY MEANS COULD OUTBREAK IN ANYTHING WHERE YOU HAVE A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT.

AIRPLANE TRAVEL USUALLY PRETTY SAFE.

THERE IS A LOT OF AIR CIRCULATION.

YOU ARE REALLY ONLY AT RISK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARETH YOUR IMMEDIATE AREA.

BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK WEARING A MASK I USUALLY WILL WEAR A MASK ON A PLANE RIDE, BECAUSE OF THE CLOSED ENVIRONMENT NO MATTER WHERE I'M GOING.

>> Jeff: I GOT A LONG PLANE RIDE COMING UP AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT AND I'VE READ THERE IS A LOT OF AIRFLOW AT ATTITUDE.

BUT I THINK I WILL CARRY A MASK.

YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU, NEXT TO YOU, BEHIND YOU.

AND IF SOMEBODY STARTS COUGHING A LOT, PUT THE MASK ON.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INFLUENZA OR RUIN YOUR TRIP OR WHATEVER YOU ARE TRAVELING FOR.

THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE AREA AROUND YOU MAYBE CARRYING.

AND MOST PEOPLE ARE MOST CONTAGIOUS IN THE DAYS RIGHT BEFORE THEY BECOME SICK.

SO THEY MAY NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARE CONTAGIOUS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

>> Jeff: MAYBE I WILL STAY HOME THEN.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SAFE TRAVEL TIPS STARTING WITH RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION.

AND GET RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATIONS.

PEOPLE ARE GOING AS FAR AS DOWN ANY OCEAN YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS.

WHERE DO YOU HAVE TO START WORRYING ABOUT IT?

>> THERE IS A REAL MOVEMENT IN ADVENTURE TRAVEL AND I GET IT IT'S SUPER EXCITING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES WE CAN REACH.

IT PAYS TO RESEARCH ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

IF YOU ARE GOING OFF THE BEATEN PATH TO A REMOTE AREA AND YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPEND A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS GO TO A TRAVEL CLINIC WHO CAN GET YOU UP-TO-DATE ON VACCINES THAT MIGHT BE PERTINENT FOR THAT AREA THAT YOU ARE GOING TO.

OR GIVE YOU ADVICE TO WHAT TO WORRY ABOUT.

THEY WILL TAP INTO STATE DEPARTMENT WARNINGS FOR THE AREA YOU MIGHT BE GOING TO.

OBVIOUSLY IF YOU ARE GOING ON A CRUISE SHIP, THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SET OF CONCERNS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO PLAN AHEAD FOR.

THERE ARE YOU KNOW, SOME ANTIBIOTICS THAT CAN TREAT FOR BACTERIAL GASTROENTERITIS IF YOU ARE GOING TO A TRIP IN MEXICO OR CENTRAL AMERICA YOU MIGHT WANT TO PLAN AHEAD FOR THAT.

THERE'S LOTS OF AREAS WHERE YOU CAN GET GOOD ADVICE AND IT'S WORTHWHILE IN ABOUT A FOUR-WEEK TO SIX-WEEK PERIOD BEFORE YOU LEAVE CONSIDERING VISITING A TRAVEL CLINIC.

>> Jeff: LET'S GO BACK TO THE LIST HERE.

AND OBVIOUS THINGS WASH YOUR HANDS A LOT.

DISINFECT HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES.

CONSIDER WEARING A MASK WE DISCUSSED.

THIS LAST ONE BOOST IMMUNITY BEFORE TRAVEL.

ARE YOU THINKING YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT CALLED IMMUNE GLOBE LYNN STUFF?

>> THAT IS UNLIKELY WE DON'T DO THAT FOR HEALTHY PEOPLE.

DEPENDING ON YOUR FEELINGS FOR VACCINES YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER LOOKING INTO THAT.

YOU DEFINITELY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY CAUSES YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO DECLINE IS JUST NOT GETTING GOOD REST, GETTING GOOD NIGHT SLEEP.

MAYBE IN THE WEEK LEADING UP TO THE TIME THAT YOU ARE GOING ON VACATION YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT, GET GOOD REST.

AND I LIKE TO WEAR A MASK IN CROWDED AREAS IN THE WEEK BEFORE I GO ON VACATION.

BECAUSE I WANT MY VACCINATION NOT RUINED WHETHER IT'S INFLUENZA OR COVID OR WHAT HAVE YOU, JUST TAKE CARE IN THE WEEK LEADING UP AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF SO YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD TIME ON VACATION.

>> Jeff: I LIKE TO TAKE SHORT TRIPS SO I GET BACK HOME BEFORE THE INCUBATION PERIOD IS UP.

WE HAVE A MINUTE TO GO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS EBOLA OUTBREAK IT'S FAR AWAY, AFRICA, CONGO.

HOW CONCERNING IS THIS?

IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEY ARE ABLE TO TAMP IT DOWN.

>> SO, HANTAVIRUS ALL OVER THE NEWS.

EBOLA THAT WILL BE THE NEWS THIS ONE IS SCARY AND IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE 2014 EPIDEMIC THAT REACHED OUR SHORES.

AND THAT ONE YOU MIGHT RECALL HAD 26,000 PEOPLE INFECTED WITH EBOLA.

THIS ONE IS PARTICULARLY SCARY BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT STRAIN.

IT'S THE BUNGEE STRAIN AND THAT WE HAVE NOT DEVELOPED VACCINES.

I ACTUALLY WAS PART OF THE █TEAM THAT DEVELOPED THE FIRST BELOW LA VACCINE WE KNOW THE VACCINES WORK WELL.

WE HAVE A STRATEGY TO VACCINATE IN A RING AROUND THE VILLAGES THAT HAVE EBOLA OUTBREAKS BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT FOR THIS ONE.

AND WE HAVE GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES TO CONTROL VIRUS BUT THIS ONE IS A SCARY ONE.

>> Jeff: Dr.

KIRSTEN LYKE WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW A STORY THAT WARMS YOUR HEART AS IT BREAKS YOUR HEART.

IN THE 1980s, THE ACTOR PAUL NEWMAN DREAMED UP AN IDEA OF A SPECIAL CAMP ONLY FOR KIDS WITH SERIOUS ILLNESSES.

HE CALLED IT THE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY AFTER ONE OF HIS FAVORITE MOVIES.

THE CAMP THRIVED IN CONNECTICUT PROVIDING PRICELESS EXPERIENCES FOR KIDS WHO DESPERATELY NEEDED AND BENEFITED FROM A MOMENT IN THE SUNSHINE.

NOW AN OFF SHOOT OF THE CAMP OPENED ON LAND NEAR THE Y RIVER ON MARYLAND'S EASTERN SHORE.

WE SPOKE WITH THE LONG TIME C.E.O.

JIMMY CANTON.

SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU WERE A YOUNG COUNSELOR IN YEAR ONE.

WHAT MEMORIES STAND OUT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS CAMP?

>> IT WAS 1988.

IT WAS OUR FIRST CAMPERS ARRIVED ON JUNE 18TH BEFORE OUR FIRST CAMPERS ARRIVED THE STAFF WAS ASSEMBLED WE CAME TOGETHER 24 HOURS AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION CREW LEFT.

AND WE HAD BEEN THROUGH A WEEK OF ORIENTATION AND HEARD ABOUT OUR FOUNDER JOINING US ON THE LAST NIGHT OF ORIENTATION, PAUL NEWMAN.

THERE WAS ALL THIS EXCITEMENT ON THE LAST DAY OF ORIENTATION.

AND WE HAD A BIG FEAST TO CELEBRATE A WEEK OF TRAINING.

AND PAUL NEWMAN WALKED INTO THE DINING HALL AND YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP.

EVERYONE WAS JUST IN AWE OF THIS MAN.

AND WHAT WE HAD HEARD ABOUT AND WHAT HE HAD CREATED IN THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THIS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL PLACE FOR REALLY BRAVE AND SPECIAL CHILDREN.

AND HE TOOK HE WENT TO THE TOP OF THE DINING HALL THE FRONT OF THE DINING HALL AND HE HAD A GLASS OF NEWMAN'S OWN LEMONADE.

AND EVERYONE STOPPED AND HE WAS GOING TO GIVE A TOAST.

AND HE HELD UP THE GLASS, AND HE SIMPLY SAID I'VE TAKEN IT THIS FAR, YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE.

RAISE A LITTLE HELL.

AND THAT WAS IT.

AND HE WAS JUST AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN.

NO SHRED OF FOUNDERS SYNDROME IN HIM HE WANTED TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE WITH LIKE HEARTS TO MAKE THIS PLACE BETTER THAN HE EVER IMAGINED.

AND SO HE WAS OPEN TO ASSEMBLING A TEAM AND INVITING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE DREAM TO PLACES HE HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

WE'RE GOING INTO OUR 39TH SUMMER.

AND I'M AT YELLOW FOUR WHERE MY JOURNEY BEGAN AS A CABIN COUNSELOR THIS WAS MY FIRST CABIN; YEAH WE'VE GROWN FROM THAT PROGRAM SERVING 288 CHILDREN TO THIS YEAR MORE THAN 20,000 CHILDREN WILL BE SERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND WE'LL CREATE OVER 40,000 HEALING EXPERIENCES JUST THIS YEAR.

SO A LOT HAS HAPPENED.

>> Jeff: WE'LL TALK ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT HAS HAPPENED.

THE GROWTH.

PERSONALLY YOUR GROWTH FROM COUNSELOR TO C.E.O.

AND HOW IT'S EXPANDED FROM JUST THE PROGRAM AT THE FACILITY AND THE SUMMER TO EVERYTHING YOU DO YEAR-ROUND AND NOW, OF COURSE, HERE IN MARYLAND.

>> SO EXCITING.

YEAH.

IT'S I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE REALLY TETHER OURSELVES TO OUR FOUNDERS SPIRIT IS TO BE ENTREPRENEURIAL.

AND TO GO WHERE THERE IS A NEED.

AND HE ALWAYS WANTED THIS CAMP WAS PIONEERED BACK IN 1988.

THERE WAS ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS THAT PREDATED US NOWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES WAS THERE A CAMP EXCLUSIVELY COMMITTED TO SERVING SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN.

AND SO HE IMAGINED WHAT DIDN'T EXIST.

AND HE ALWAYS INVITED THE STAFF TO CONTINUE TO IMAGINE THAT.

TO BE INNOVATIVE TO GO WHERE THERE WAS A NEED.

SO WE'VE GONE FROM A SPUM SUMMER PROGRAM TO A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM ON-SITE THEN WE TOOK OUR PROGRAMS OFFSITE WHEN OUR BEDS WERE FILLED.

AND WE WENT INTO THE HOSPITALS.

TODAY WE'RE IN OVER 30 HOSPITALS BETWEEN BOSTON AND WASHINGTON D.C.

SERVING CHILDREN AT THEIR HOSPITAL BEDSIDES BRINGING CAMP ENERGY AND PLAY RIGHT TO THEM TAKING OVER THE ACTIVITIES OF A REC ROOM.

AND OR JUST DOING BED TO BED WORK.

WE'VE GONE TO CHILDREN'S HOMES WHO MAYBE DECLINING IN HEALTH TO REMIND THEM OF THE COMMUNITY THAT LOVES THEM.

AND A PLACE WHERE THEY THOUGH THAT THEY ARE ACCEPTED AND NORMAL.

IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHERE WE BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER THAT MAY NOT KNOW ONE ANOTHER AT THAT TIME WE KNOW SHOULD KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

>> Jeff: AT THE PHYSICAL CAMP LOCATION WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY LIKE?

AND DO THE ACTIVITIES DEPEND ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> YES.

ALL OF THAT, YES.

ACTIVITIES BEGIN IF YOU'VE GOT THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN THAT WOULD BE SEVEN YEARS OLD.

WE THEY WILL BE UP AT 6:30 READY AND RARING TO GO.

AND SO WE HAVE EARLY MORNING ACTIVITIES STARTING AT 7:00 A.M.

FISHING AND BOATING.

WE'LL HAVE SWIM ORNATER HIKES.

MAYBE THERE IS A WOOD SHOP OPEN PREBREAKFAST ACTIVITIES GOING UNTIL 8:15.

BREAKFAST AT 8:30.

THEN WE DO CABIN CLEAN UP FROM 10 TO 10:30.

FIRST ACTIVITIES DURING THE DAY, WE ASSIGN THE CHILDREN TO THOSE ACTIVITIES SO WE TRY TO INTRODUCE THE CHILDREN TO ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE AT CAMP FOR THE WEEK OR SO THAT THEY ARE HERE.

AND LUNCH AND THEN AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES WHERE THE CHILDREN SIGN UP FOR THEIR OWN DESIRED ACTIVITIES.

BETWEEN LUNCH AND AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES IS REST HOUR.

AND OUR KIDS NEED IT.

AND THEN THEY SIGN UP FOR THE ACTIVITIES THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFTERNOON.

WE COME BACK FOR DINNER.

AND THEN WE HAVE AN EVENING ACTIVITY.

AND THEY MAYBE AN ALL CAMP ACTIVITY OR JUST A CABIN SPECIFIC ACTIVITY.

AT EVERYONE OF THOSE MEALS, WE DO A GRACE TO REMEMBER OUR FOUNDER.

AND WE HAVE SONG AND DANCE AFTER EVERY MEAL.

>> Jeff: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE KIDS?

AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE FAMILIES?

>> IT IS A SANCTUARY.

IT IS AN ESCAPE.

IT IS A PLACE WHERE DIAGNOSIS DOESN'T LEAD THE CONVERSATION.

AND WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE REMINDED THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

I THINK OUR FOUNDER WANTED TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE WHERE CHILDREN WHO WERE BURDENED WITH ILLNESS AND WHO WERE DEALT A REALLY BAD HAND, A LOT OF BAD LUCK AS HE WOULD SAY.

THAT THEY COULD BE SAFE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL THESE TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES.

AND RAISE A LITTLE HELL AND GET IN TOUCH WITH CHILDHOOD AGAIN.

WHAT HE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE WAS THE PROFOUND HEALING THAT WOULD COME ABOUT AS THOSE CHILDREN LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM AND SAW 100 OTHER CHILDREN LIKE THEMSELVES.

AND IRONICALLY, THE I ILLNESS TT BROUGHT THEM TO CAMP NEVER NEEDED TO BE MENTIONED BECAUSE IT WAS EVERYWHERE.

SO IT WAS THIS NORMAL COMMUNITY.

THEY WERE NORMAL TO HAVE THIS.

AND THEN THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DISCUSS THAT AS THEY DO OUTSIDE OF CAMP SO OFTEN.

AND AS A RESULT THEY COULD DISCUSS ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THEMSELVES.

AND SO ILLNESS DIDN'T LEAD THE CONVERSATION FOR ONCE SOMETIMES IN THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

SO IT'S SUCH A PLACE OF FREEDOM.

IT'S SUCH A PLACE OF JOY.

IT IS A PLACE OF MISCHIEF.

IT IS A PLACE OF LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE AND BELONGING.

I THINK THE FAMILIES EXPERIENCE THAT SIMILARLY.

NOT ONLY DO THEY WITNESS THEIR CHILD WITH ILLNESS PARTICIPATING WITHOUT ANY OBSTACLES, WHICH IS AFFIRMING AND HEARTWARMING.

BUT THEN THEY, TOO, LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AND SEE OTHER PARENTS WHO ARE LITERALLY WALKING THEIR WALK.

AND HOW COMFORTING THAT IS.

TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

AND THOSE FRIENDSHIPS, THEY ARE LIFELONG THAT THOSE FRIENDSHIPS THAT ARE INTRODUCED TO CAMP.

>> Jeff: HOW DO THE NEW MARYLAND LOCATION COME ABOUT?

I'VE BEEN THERE BECAUSE DECADES AGO IT WAS FAMOUSLY THE HOST SITE FOR MIDDLE EASTERN PEACE TALKS.

AND FOR OUR VIEWERS IT'S JUST OVER THE BAY BRIDGE IN THE QUEENS TOWN AREA.

>> YOU KNOW, IT FOLLOWS OUR FOUNDER'S DRIVE HIS DESIRE TO BE OF USE.

AND TO GO WHERE THERE WAS A NEED.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD FILLED ALL THE BEDS IN THIS CONNECTICUT LOCATION IN ALL THE GOOD SEASON DAYS.

AND WE WERE THEN IN HOSPITALS ALL UP AND DOWN THE NORTHEAST AND WE WERE VISITING CHILDREN IN THEIR HOMES.

SO WE JUST ASKED OURSELVES WHAT ELSE?

WHAT IS THE NEXT BOLD DREAM?

AND THAT WAS CREATING A SECOND RESIDENTIAL SITE WHERE THIS MAGIC CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

AND WE DID A MEDICAL NEEDS ANALYSIS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC AND FOUND THERE WERE THOUSANDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO WEREN'T BEING SERVED IN THE WAY WE COULD SERVE THEM.

AND NO SOONER DID WE COMMIT TO PURSUING THAT, THEN THE ASPEN INSTITUTE ENTERED OUR LIVES AND PRESENTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THAT PROPERTY AS A GIFT.

>> Jeff: DO YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF ON-SITE MEDICAL SUPPORT OR SOMETHING CLOSE BY?

AND RELATED TO THAT I'VE HEARD FROM A FRIEND THAT YOU HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL EXPERTS READY TO VOLUNTEER?

>> IT'S AMAZING.

WE HAVE, YES, WE HAVE A FULL MEDICAL TEAM FOR WHEN WE HAVE INDEPENDENT CAMPER PROGRAM, THAT IS ABOUT 120, 110, TO 120 CHILDREN ON THEIR OWN WE WILL HAVE A TEAM OF 12-15 NURSES.

AND THREE TO FOUR FULL-TIME PHYSICIANS.

WE CAN ADMINISTER ORAL CHEMOTHERAPY, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, INFUSIONS, GET LAB WORK RIGHT AWAY IF THE CHILDREN NEED IT.

AND SO THAT INFIRMARY IS THE FIRST STEP TO ENSURING SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE.

IT HAS TO BE TOPNOTCH MEDICAL CARE.

AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A TEAM OF ANYWHERE FROM 30 DOCTORS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER THAT WILL COME AND VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME.

AND 60 NURSES OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER WILL COME AND VOLUNTEER.

AND THEN WE HAVE A STAFF OF A FULL-TIME MEDICAL DIRECTOR, A FULL-TIME NURSING DIRECTOR AND A COUPLE SALARIED NURSES AS WELL DURING THE SUMMER.

THE INFIRMARY IS A POWERHOUSE.

>> Jeff: ANYTHING YOU CAN SHARE IN ALL YOUR TIME WITH THIS ORGANIZATION, FROM DAY ONE ON THE LOWEST WRUNG TO NOW THE C.E.O.

AFTER DECADES, ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED ABOUT PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE, HEALTHY PEOPLE, SICK PEOPLE WHAT COMES TO MIND?

>> THE GREATEST LESSON WE'LL LEARN IS JUST TO LOVE AND BE LOVED IN RETURN.

TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SPACE FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH HARDSHIP.

TO COME AND FORGET ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING THEM BACK.

AND TO SEE ALL THAT IS POSSIBLE FOR THEM.

IS MY GOODNESS, IT'S SO FILLED WITH PURPOSE, IT'S SO URGENT, IT'S SO SATISFYING.

I THINK JUST CREATING THAT SPACE WHERE WE CAN LOVE ON THOSE CHILDREN AND THOSE FAMILIES, THOSE OF US WHO ARE LUCKY TO BE IN THIS SPACE ARE SO LOVED IN RETURN.

SO IT'S -- IT REALLY IS A SACRED PLACE.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO BACK TO THE FOUNDER THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT PAUL NEWMAN, RIGHT?

I MEAN HE RAISED THE MONEY.

HE HAD THE IDEA.

AND IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME WHERE LIKE RIPPLES IN A POND WHERE SOMETHING CAN BE STARTED SMALL AND HAVE SUCH HUGE IMPACT.

>> YES.

IMPACT ON THE CHILDREN WE SERVE.

THEIR FAMILIES.

>> IMPACT ON THE STAFF AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE THEM.

IMPACT ON THE DONORS WHO TOUCH SOMETHING SO AUTHENTIC AND SO GENUINELY IMPACTFUL.

THAT IT CHANGES EVERYONE'S LIFE.

IT REMIND YOU ABOUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE AND SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE HOLE IN THE WALL REMINDS US LIFE IS FRAGILE AND WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.

AND IF WE'RE GRANTED, GIFTED, HEALTH AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THEN WE BETTER DAMN WELL MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE.

AND BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SO LUCKY.

AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAKE OUR WORLD BETTER THAN WE FIND IT.

>> Jeff: JIMMY CANTON THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US.

>> IT IS A PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAMP AT HOLE IN THE WALL GANG.ORG.

THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]