With a heart of gold, she helps the other campers

A lot of kids don’t like P.E. class, but 16-year-old Jimecia’s abhorrence of “Run Day” can be excused: She had four major heart surgeries before she was 10.

“I had two open-heart, four shunts and there’s a couple more in between there too,” she says casually.

Jimecia was born with a congenital heart defect that made it difficult to oxidize blood.

Her last surgery, in 2001, closed a hole so that her heart would no longer be enlarged. Her blood is now properly oxidized and doctors are optimistic that she will not require further operations.

Her heart problems have given her a sort of permanent “Get Out of Jail Free” card for Run Day, but she confesses that she doesn’t often need it.

Jimecia is as active as most girls her age but is occasionally tempted to duck running laps by any means necessary.

“Sometimes they’ll give me a note for P.E., but I very rarely use it,” she says.

Although she counts Internet chatting, listening to music and crocheting among her favorite amusements, she’s no recluse. Self-confident and engaging, she says that she wants to be a psychologist, teacher or model.

“I like helping people with their problems,” she says. “People say I like listening to sob stories, but I just like helping people figure out stuff.”

Jimecia has attended the Jay Nolan Camp at Teresita Pines each summer since she was 8 and will go again this year via the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Campaign.

Camp director David Garry describes it as a place for kids with developmental disabilities, such as autism, and for kids without disabilities, like Jimecia, to come together for fun.

Garry says that about 65% of the campers are not disabled. Jimecia is committed to helping out with all the kids -- as a counselor in training.

“My family does a lot of stuff with people with autism,” she says. “My uncle, at his home, takes care of adults with autism. He’s had them since they were children because of my [late] aunt.”

Delighted that Jimecia will be a trainee, Garry says, “She showed so much responsibility and leadership as a camper. She’s been exceptional with the kids.”

“I can put up with people’s tempers easily,” she says. “I’m just happy -- I’m always happy.”

About 11,000 children will go to camp this summer, thanks to $1.6 million raised last year.

The annual fundraising campaign is part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, which this year will match the first $1.1 million in contributions at 50 cents on the dollar.

Donations are tax-deductible. For more information, call (213) 237-5771. To make donations by credit card, go to la times.com/summercamp.

To send checks, use the attached coupon. Do not send cash.

Unless requested otherwise, gifts of $50 or more will be acknowledged in The Times.