Memories from a year ago are coming fast and furious now. This was a poignant time last year as we watched Brendan grow spiritually strong but struggle physically. We knew time was getting short, but we had no idea just how long or short his time left on earth would be.
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| Aaron arriving at Camp Hobe 2017. |
Camp Hobé was a tender mercy in all of our lives. It was a dream of Brendan’s to attend, but he was afraid he would not be strong enough to go. He was needing regular blood and platelet transfusions just to feel better and keep from bleeding. He couldn’t walk much, needed his feeding tube to eat, and it just seemed like camp was not going to be possible.
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| Aaron at the end of Hobe Juniors. He didn't want to go home! |
But Camp Hobé is not just any camp. While it’s a camp specifically for cancer kids and their siblings, it’s so much more than that. It’s a camp that took a terribly sick, weak boy and transformed him into a normal, playful, almost 12-year-old boy who could enjoy all the normal things an almost-12-year-old boy would love. It was magic. And this year Camp Hobé took some heartbroken siblings and healed their hearts — just a little bit . . .
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| Lindsay and Landon arriving at Camp Hobé. |
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| Camp Hobé's theme this year was Hobé Cruise Lines. Here is the pre-cruise photo op. |
Lindsay, Landon, and Aaron all attended Camp Hobé this year. Rachel volunteered as a counselor again and was at Teen Camp along with Lindsay and Landon. Aaron participated as a Hobe Junior and spent two days and one night. All came home with a light in their hearts and a joy at having been a part of the Hobé experience.
What makes up the Camp Hobé experience? And why does it cause such joy? I’ve tried to figure out the magic solution. . .
I’ve looked at what they do — skits, silly camp songs, crafts, archery, swimming, hiking. Hmmm. Not much different that any other camp. Maybe it’s the food — popcorn chicken, PB&J’s, bagels, chips, and sweet pork burritos. That couldn’t be it. What about the people — doctors and nurses from PCH that love the kids and are familiar to them? Camp staff that have been doing what they do for years. Cancer kids - from newly diagnosed to 7 year veterans. Camp counselors, like Rachel, who are siblings of a cancer kid, but too old to attend camp. Yes, the people who understand cancer and kids — now we might be on to something.
Another magic ingredient seems to be having cancer kids and their siblings together. Why not a camp just for cancer kids? Or why not just the siblings? I think that is part of the magic. Cancer kids get so much attention and siblings usually get none. But you put lots of cancer kids together and they are nothing special — they become normal. And you put a bunch of cancer siblings together and they become special — at least they are treated just as special as their cancer siblings for a change. For once, since diagnosis, the cancer kid and their siblings are treated the same. And they are doing the same things. When else does a cancer kid get to swim? Or go down a zip line? Or eat anything they want? When does a sibling get to enjoy an introductory SCUBA dive or enjoy a hypnotist show? When do they get to just be a kid again and not have to be an adult and helper. There is healing in “being a normal kid” for a change.
All analysis aside, one undeniable “magic” element at Camp Hobé is the incredible healing spirit that resides there. You feel it just walking into camp. It’s a place where they take time to remember the hard times and the good times of cancer treatment. They take time to remember family and friends who have passed on, but don’t let it overcome the good things that are happening and the wonderful life yet to be lived. Camp Hobé truly is a place of healing.
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| Aaron planting a flower in memory of Brendan at Hobé Forever. |
Much love !
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