Children with chronic heart problems are getting the chance this week to feel normal by attending a special summer camp in the Valley.

It's called Camp Heartbeat in Massanetta Springs, and it's part of a series run by the Brainy Camps Association for children ages 7-16 with chronic illnesses.

To the average eye, you would never think there was anything wrong with these kids.

But they're all here because they suffer from cardiovascular problems that many times require serious surgeries or for them to wear pacemakers or defibrillators.

Doctor Charlie Berul is a cardiologist from Washington DC who looks forward to Camp Heartbeat every year.

"A lot of these kids, they're the only ones in their school that have congenital heart disease or pacemakers," he explains. "Here they come to camp and see there's lots of kids that have heart diseases."

He loves how he can play with the kids in ways a teacher at school may be worried to. On Monday, they all took part in a huge slip and slide, which was the consensus favorite activity among the kids.

Brainy Camps founder Sandy Cushner's idea started 17 years ago when she opened her first camp for kids with epilepsy. Her goal is to bring kids together who suffer from chronic diseases to feel the same as everyone else.

"They help each other, she says. "Instead of being the one is always helped.

Every summer, the campgrounds in Massanetta Springs host the children from all over the nation.

"Some of our camps have children from all over the country. From California, Oregon, Florida, and all over."

For more information on Camp Heartbeat, and other Brainy Camps, visit www.Brainycamps.Com.

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