Sienna is 15 and lives in Beverly Hills, California. The youngest of three siblings, Sienna is a high school sophomore and a varsity athlete on her school’s swim team. She is passionate about caring for the environment and enjoys camping and nature. Though she is a vegetarian, she won’t give up cheese and mocha almond fudge ice cream.
At age six, Sienna was diagnosed with fibromyxoid sarcoma, a soft-tissue cancer. That year was also Sienna’s first summer at Camp Simcha.
“When I first heard I was going to Camp Simcha, I was excited but also nervous about the unknown,” said Sienna. “But when I got here I was amazed by this place and how awesome and kind the people are. Everyone is so nice and really understands what it’s like to go through illness. Here you’re not labeled as a sick kid, everyone is normal.”
This summer was Sienna’s ninth at Camp Simcha. One of the best things about camp, says Sienna, is that “dressing up isn’t optional, it’s the required everyday uniform. In camp, we joke that everything we wear here on a daily basis we would get stared at if we were outside of camp. When I pack for camp I must bring a tutu—it’s just a necessity for the daily Camp Simcha outfit.”
Another thing Sienna loves about Camp Simcha: snow in the middle of July.
“I live in California and wish I saw snow,” she says. “So I get excited when they turn on the snow machines in Camp Simcha, it’s a magical experience. The whole camp is a magical experience, it’s my favorite place in the world.”
Updated August 2019.
