Alice’s Summer Adventure

Do you remember Alice? She’s back from camp and full of stories!

“We loved every minute of family camp. Alice and her sister Aviva both could not get out of the water. It was a week filled with swimming, time at the splash pad, and endless water games. They also both did the rock wall this year, and that was awesome.

This is really our family holiday, and it’s something we all look forward to. Whenever we go anywhere, we are always worried: what if Alice has a seizure? But we know, at camp, if she has a seizure, or her balance is off, there are people to help, so we don’t even worry in the slightest.

We just found out that her tumour is growing again, and Alice is going to need more treatment soon. This time instead of chemo, which was too traumatic for her, she’s getting something called an inhibitor. I couldn’t believe it when I met another parent at camp with a son doing the same treatment! It was such a comfort to meet them and hear their stories.

Camp has helped Alice get ready for school in the fall. Because of her post-traumatic stress disorder, she wasn’t comfortable at all. Camp has made her excited about meeting new people. It’s opened her up. Now, she has confidence. It’s quite the opposite to what she was like from the timid little girl who wouldn’t let anyone touch her.

Camp is also for me. My husband and I never get to spend time together so the adult time at the end of the night is my favourite. I am also extra grateful for the ‘caregiver barista’: mornings when we had specialty coffees and snacks and could chat with other parents. Actually, the last time I had a hot coffee was at camp!”

— Sarah Smedley, Camper Family

Read Alice's Story