The Gift of “We Are Ocean”

Hello, my name is Jenny and I have survived cancer three times. 

One week before the August 2025 Newport Aquatic Center’s We Are Ocean camp I had a PET scan that led to an MRI. No cancer survivor wants to hear the words, “your cancer is back,” yet here I was again floating in my chair with the words echoing in my head. My oncologist wanted me to have surgery the following week. The urgency in my doctor’s voice, the severity of the tumor location on my femur, and the pleading of my husband to get the surgery sooner rather than later made me pause. I could barely breathe, and then with clarity and determination I took control and I chose to live my life with intent, and my intent is to live my life. As a returning NAC-WAO camper, there was no way I was missing this camp on Catalina. The common bond WAO campers share is all that surrounds and engulfs the ugly word of cancer. We arrive as strangers and yet there has never been a cancer clinic, cancer therapy or a cancer outreach program that has brought me closer to a group of strangers in one week’s time than NAC’s magical camp called, We Are Ocean. My mind was made-up and I walked out of the hospital with surgery scheduled two and a half weeks later. I was going.

It was the best decision I made. My first healing moment was watching the warm yellows of sunrise over Newport’s coastal hills and below the creeping gray marine layer. The sun’s colors danced upon the ocean while towing two canoes to the camp. Billy and the staff were as excited as the playful dolphins escorting me across the channel. The water transformed from a coastal color of a muddy blue, to a deep sea blue and finally, the shallower clear blue-green waters of Emerald Bay, Catalina.

With my most recent diagnosis I couldn’t carry anything. I couldn’t help offload the gear, canoes, and other water toys. A trip and fall was a big concern so I stood by and watched the staff quickly rig canoes, fill the refrigerator with fresh food, set up flags and banners, while I waited for the water taxi to arrive from Two Harbors with the rest of the WAO cancer fighters and survivors.

After an ice breaker introduction round of “speed dating,” our WAO camp leader Gabby Laurent,  presented the weekly schedule and then concluded with, “you don’t have to do any of this.” From that point on the mood was light, everyone was smiling and everything was easy. Of course we partook in everything and Gabby, along with the rest of the NAC – WAO staff, Jojo, Elaine, Natalie, Val, Dave, Danielle and Ashley, ensured we were accommodated quickly, comfortably and safely to our ability in, on, and under the water, as well as on land.

We Are Ocean Campers & Staff

Take-aways from the week:

Being in the water: There’s nothing like the sensory feeling of being in salt water; the suspension, the movement of the waves, the salty taste and smell and knowing you are part of the ocean. We all became kids again, splashing, jumping off the pier, taking turns paddling OC1, OC2’s, kayaks and SUP’s. Paddling was one activity I couldn’t do but I did grab a snorkel, mask and fins, to take in the sights of the underwater world. Ashley found a cluster of the largest abalone I have ever seen and garibaldis never get old. 

We went sailing. Many of the campers have never been on a sailboat. However, I grew up sailing, and well, it’s been many years since I’ve gone sailing, so I was excited. We got out of the lee and into the wind line and then the moment happened; the moment when the engine is cut and there is silence. My memories flooded me; feeling the motion of the hull dancing on the water, the wind in the sails and turning my cheek to the wind, my eyes filled with tears as I was reminded of my 3 year journey cruising the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red and Mediterranean Seas. 

Paddle out: We got word that a friend lost her fight to cancer and before we went introspective to our own moments of staring death in its face, the staff suggested a paddle out. Almost all of the cancer fighters and survivors had never experienced a celebration of life on the water. We paddled the OC6’s, not me. I was in the power boat, to a sheared cliff wall with a water depth of eighty feet. What was a non-conspicuous point of land became a majestic environment and we found ourselves a spot of calm clear deep blue water surrounded by kelp teeming with life. The rhythm of the ocean connected us to our fellow cancer fighter and to the ocean itself. Together we used the water to express our grief of a fellow cancer fighter, we used the water to pay our respect, and our reverence by swimming, splashing and knocking on the canoe hulls. We returned back to Emerald Bay silently thanking God and the Universe for giving us life. 

We Are Ocean Campers & Staff in the Outriggers

Drop the Rock: We were all at the campfire taking photos of the milky way when Gabby reminded us to find two rocks, not big ones, but one to throw in the water and one to keep. I put all my worries, concerns, angst, should’ve would’ve could haves, and everything else that I don’t have control over into that one rock. When everyone was ready Gabby had us all through our rocks into the water. My rock sailed through the air with all my woes and burdens and I watched it plop into the water to never be seen again. What a simple little exercise, yet how great I felt; cleansed and light and determined to live everyday with intent. Our take home rock is to remind us of that moment, that feeling, the camp, and our new friends.

The Newport Aquatic Center WAO camp is a gift, Billy and his tireless staff are a gift, the ocean is a gift. One week on a little beachy area with a few little boats on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean made a profound perspective impact on me for appreciation, gratitude, and tranquility. Without these three gifts I would not have been able to reflect upon the things in life that matter, and to simply forgive, let go and delete all that I was holding on too. This camp allowed me to spiritually, mentally and physically connect with nature, people and the universe.

 I am now post surgery. I start radiation in a few days. I am taking my rock with me. 

Jenny sailing off Catalina

A thousand thank yous to Billy and the NAC-WAO staff.

Jenny