Sean was just 2 years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Through nearly three years of scans, procedures, and treatments, his mom, Melissa, struggled to give her son a childhood despite his diagnosis.
“I always wanted to go camping and do outdoor stuff with Sean,” Melissa recalls. “But when he got sick, those hopes and dreams disappeared.”
When Sean finally went into remission, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times brought those dreams back to life. At last, Sean could be a kid again, running and playing with his brother, learning archery, and making new friends. But for Melissa, the experience goes far beyond camping activities.
“The atmosphere is different, especially for me as a parent, getting to know other parents,” Melissa says. “You know that we’ve all been through the same fires … so it’s like even though you just met them, we’re all part of a family already.”
The shared experience of Camp creates an unspoken bond among families like Sean’s, offering a sense of understanding and community. And your generosity gives an even greater gift to families — the opportunity to heal together in ways they could have never imagined.
“These places are very sacred … they’re magic,” Melissa says. “The laughter and joy … the community and belonging. Knowing that we’re not alone. This heals wounds that medicine can’t touch.”
