Debbie Ward, RN

In 1982, Debbie Ward was a mom with three children when she began a life-changing journey.  Her son Sammy became another victim of the terrible disease called cancer.  1984, after 2 years of treatment, Sammy had the opportunity to go to a wonderful camp named Camp Good Times.  There, he became independent and had the most wonderful time.  In April of 1985, Sammy lost his battle with Leukemia.  During his illness, Debbie had learned so much about cancer that she decided to go back to school and become a Registered Nurse.  She graduated in 1990, and as dear friend had once told her, "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade."   Debbie continued participating in Camp for eight years while attending school and after by helping recruit campers from Kern County through a self-help group for parents of children impacted by cancer called Candlelighters.  After three years of being a nurse, Debbie began to volunteer in Camp’s Med Shed and has done so every summer since 1993.  Debbie is currently the Nurse Manager at CVS/Coram Healthcare, where for the past eighteen years she has worked as an infusion nurse and providing care to patients in their homes.  Debbie says that it has been an honor and pleasure to participate with Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times since 1985 as a volunteer/RN.