testimonials
Hear from our Family!
Emily Meyer
My family is blessed by many who live like Jesus. Camp Hope has a director, a board, and an entire team of volunteers with servant hearts who work all year around to make camp happen for kids like Gunner and their siblings. Tonight, I was grateful to be amongst friends and family to speak on behalf of this organization and its mission. I challenge any of you who look to give in a meaningful way. Even the donation of paper plates is recognized and valued. My children and many local kids in their same circumstances benefit from the generosity like that which was shown tonight. Emily Saddler, Mom to campers, Gunner and Willow
Meosha Hilson
To the amazing parents in the world who are going through life challenges with their children. Keep up the good work...This is my boys third year attending (Camp Hope) and it has been amazing for them to explore the opportunities to do and feel wanted and accepted to everything in life with no limitations. To feel like a normal kid, which they are. Let me tell you, after meeting with all the staff at the camp and doctors on site- trust your kids are in wonderful hands and their are plenty of great staff members and volunteers that helps them with these events. I strongly suggest you guys, if your child hasn't experienced these opportunities, please let them enjoy life outside of your care. It's going to be hard at first but trust and believe. You can call and check on them and not only that, it gives us as a parent to get a break as well because at the end of the day we have to be strong for them. So parents let's let our children explore life to the fullest.
Halle Bloom
Halle told me she was able to “grow and learn to be more independent” at camp this year.
As you know, she has been medically fragile since age 3. Between that and having a controlling mom (working on it!), the chance for her to spread her wings and try new things is so so huge for her.
Lucas was born right after Halle finished treatment. We found out we were expecting him the day after her diagnosis. His whole life has been affected by Halle’s fragility. Her needs have affected us all, but his unexpected arrival truly turned our world upside down, or perhaps turned it right side up after Halle’s illness had turned it upside down. I hope that makes sense.
Being four years apart, it could be expected that the two Bloom babies wouldn’t be terribly close. The opposite is true. They are very close. Lucas has helped to take the pressure off of the focus being all about Halle at all times. He doesn’t mean to, obviously, but it’s the hand he’s been dealt.
With that, though, is a life of less freedom than his peers may have. He has an innate feeling of responsibility and care for his sister. To be able to see her enjoy 5 days of freedom is such a gift to him! They both get to just be kids during camp! No appointments, no mom watching every little thing, no responsibilities! It’s like magic for them.
Camp is a gift to Matt and me as well. Our marriage has suffered through years of stress. The stress of raising three kids, one with special needs, has taken its toll. We never leave them, rarely even for an evening out. As much as we love our kids, the freedom camp offers us is amazing. I know the nurses and medical professionals can handle Halle’s needs. I trust them.
Halle got sick during the 2019 camp week. The nurses called me and acted swiftly. She recovered and then returned back. It was stressful, but proved to me that Halle can be ok, even without me.
The thing Camp does more now than ever is offer HOPE. Hope for Halle’s future. Our whole family’s future. It proves to me that Halle can function in the world. She is becoming more independent, and this is a really big exercise of her being able to feel a sense of the freedom she can feel as her future opens for her.