Family Flats: Mahogany’s Story

When camper Troy’s doctor first told his mom Mahogany about The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, she was completely against the idea of him going. But his doctor was persistent, and so was her husband, and so was Troy himself. Their persistence, coupled with the doctor’s assurances that there would be excellent medical care on site, convinced Mahogany to let her son attend. 

Troy came to Camp for the first time in the summer of 2022, and the family soon joined him at a Family Weekend that fall. Troy came back again this past summer, this time joined by his little sister. And at the end of the summer, the entire family once again made the trip to Hole in the Wall for the Family Camp that closed out the season. At Camp, Troy can escape the reality of his illness for a little bit while surrounded by others who get it. 

“Troy talks a lot about his counselors and friends; he’s even still in touch with some of them,” Mahogany said. “it’s good for him to have friends who understand what he goes through. We can’t really understand his pain and issues. But it means a lot for him to have friends who understand.” 

Camp hasn’t just been good for Troy, but for his entire family. Troy’s little sister was able to connect with other siblings who were dealing with similar challenges. And this past summer, Mahogany and her husband were able to attend a Parent and Caregiver Retreat Weekend where they met other parents and learned from their experiences. 

“I didn’t expect the weekend to be as amazing as it was,” Mahogany shared. “I really enjoyed the session with the clown. He gave me great advice on how to relive stress and take a break from reality. And the circle time with the other moms was a weight off of my shoulders. Just talking to a group of women who won’t pity me but will understand me, that was amazing. Camp has been a blessing to our family.” 

To learn more about how Camp programs support the entire family, click here.