2023 Therapeutic Hearts Household Bereavement Camp

This July, households who just lately misplaced a liked one to most cancers got here collectively at Memorytown USA in Mount Pocono, PA for Most cancersCare’s free annual Therapeutic Hearts Household Bereavement Camp. 19 households and near 40 kids and adolescents, ages 4-17, attended this 12 months’s camp from July 14-16.

After households arrived on Friday night time, they’d the chance to collect for dinner, play video games, make s’mores and dance to music, courtesy of DJ Angelo. Returning kids, as soon as once more, sat collectively at their very own desk, and made extra room for the bigger variety of kids this 12 months. “Seeing that was simply wonderful as a result of as a substitute of 1 desk, it was two tables,” shared Kathy Nugent, Most cancersCare’s Senior Director of Regional Packages.

This 12 months’s camp theme was the ocean, and households made sea-themed reminiscence jars and collages about their family members on Saturday. Adults gathered in help teams whereas kids and adolescents gathered in age-specific teams.

Youthful kids have been learn “At all times Bear in mind,” by Cece Meng, donated by the Mild One Little Candle Basis. They have been additionally taught a dance by Most cancersCare social employee Nikki Molfetas and adorned canvas baggage and reminiscence stones. In the meantime, older kids and teenagers wrote lyrics to “Hope Floats,” a music composed by Sarah Paul, Most cancersCare’s Director of Medical Packages.

The households participated in horseback driving at Mountain Creek Driving Stables, fishing, crafts, garden video games and water actions, which included a sea turtle-themed sprinkler system. In addition they gathered for a memorial service the place the youngsters’s’ teams carried out they usually have been capable of honor their family members.

Saturday night time, additionally they participated in karaoke. However “Karaoke was not simply karaoke,” famous Cecilia Kuepper, Most cancersCare‘s Therapeutic Hearts Program Coordinator. “It’s these connections that you just make and the way the youngsters are simply being youngsters in that second.”

On Sunday, adults attended a resilience panel, the place individuals who had skilled comparable losses gave the attendees hope and inspiration. “It’s actually inspirational for them to pay attention to those tales as a result of it provides them hope that their kids shall be okay and that they are going to be okay,” mentioned Kathy. “They see a life shifting ahead.”

The youngsters had the chance to study and converse in regards to the totally different feelings they have been experiencing with Most cancersCare social employees. Youthful kids launched their feelings with kickboxing taught by Kat Morano, Most cancersCare‘s Schooling Outreach Coordinator, whereas older kids participated in meditation guided by Nikki. In addition they constructed, adorned and flew sea turtle kites.

The weekend ended with a closing ceremony the place attendees have been invited to share their ideas and gratitude and acquired presents together with sea turtle-themed wind chimes and bracelets.

“Having the interactions with different households experiencing loss had a therapeutic impact alone household,” one attendee shared. “We left camp feeling hope, not hopeless.”

One mum or dad shared, “The youngsters are extra open to speaking to us about our loss and the way they really feel because the camp. I’m glad the camp helped normalize it for us and our youngsters.”

“All of the households expressed their gratitude and have been so completely satisfied to have met others who’re experiencing comparable loss,” Kathy shared. “There have been a number of laughs and tears however everybody went house feeling uplifted.”

The Therapeutic Hearts Household Bereavement Camp wouldn’t be doable with out our volunteers, companions and supporters. Particular because of Eisai, our major sponsor, in addition to our different supporters, together with the Lillian Schenck Basis, Valley Hospital Basis, DeAnna Stark Pasciuto Memorial Fund – Northern New Jersey Neighborhood Basis and Genmab. We want to thank the Giving Doll Basis for the donation of dolls and the Mild One Little Candle Basis for the donation of books for the youngsters. We’d additionally prefer to thank Memorytown USA for offering wonderful companies and meals to our households, employees and volunteers in addition to Mountain Creek Driving Stables for internet hosting horseback driving.

Like all of Most cancersCare‘s companies, the Therapeutic Hearts Household Bereavement Camp is made obtainable to households utterly freed from cost. Please contemplate making a contribution to assist help households dealing with the lack of a liked one. You too can contact Kathy Nugent at 201-301-6809 or knugent@cancercare.org do you have to want to make a charitable contribution.