Awestruck by Family Camp

As we drive home after another great week at the TMA’s family camp, I can not begin to express how grateful I am for the camp experience.

Family Camp is a magical place. My daughters love all the camp activities. Boating, fishing, arts and crafts, swimming, wood shop, music... The list keeps going. They see camp as a place for nonstop fun, and my husband and I love to experience that with them.

For me, the amazing thing about camp is the knowledge I gain. When your child has a rare disease, there are tons of unknowns. Camp provides a chance to learn from other families and the medical professionals that attend camp. There is something so amazing about being able to sit down at dinner and talk to another family who knows exactly what it is like to balance daily life and endless doctors appointments.

I cannot even begin to explain how amazing the doctors and nurses are that attend camp. They lead educational sessions every afternoon for the parents. I love that in these sessions, we learn about new research and that we get the chance to ask questions about everything from medications to school accommodations. What truly amazes me is how the medical professionals immerse themselves in the camp experience. Sharing meals with us, painting in the wood shop, messy games and boating. No matter where you look, there is a neurologist, nurse or other medical team member and they welcome our questions. That is utterly amazing.

I am so grateful to the TMA, to the medical team, the staff at the camp and the other families for sharing their time, kindness and experiences.

Thank you also to all of our friends and family who have supported the TMA through the yearly Walk-Run & Roll. You helped make our camp experience possible. You helped support the research that will hopefully one day lead to a cure for these rare neuroimmune disorders. You made an impact, and I am beyond grateful.

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