Healing Through Community

Camp’s new Bereavement Program offers families support through connection with other families who understand. 

While Hole in the Wall has long offered a Day of Remembrance for our bereaved families, it became clear that there was more we could do to support those families coping with a child lost to serious illness. To answer that need, this year, Camp piloted a new Bereavement program, which spans three weekends over 12 months, providing families with Camp activities, group sessions facilitated by a trained bereavement specialist and most importantly, a community of others who have had shared experiences. 

“When we heard about the program, I was really interested because we had not as a family attended any bereavement programs together, so I thought it was a great opportunity for us,” shared Leslie, who attended the first weekend with her husband Sammy and daughter Samantha. “When you go through something like losing a child, you can be surrounded by many people, but you feel like no one truly understands what you’re going through. Meeting other families who have experienced loss, hearing their stories, experiences and what they do to cope and keep their child’s memory alive was something we needed. I’m so thankful for the invitation and can’t wait to see everyone again! It was such a welcoming environment.” 

The first weekend of the program took place this past April and included nine families, some who were new to Camp and others who were already members of the Hole in the Wall community. The weekend was structured to provide time for families to enjoy activities like archery, arts & crafts and more together, while also offering opportunities for moms, dads and siblings to gather with their peers to help facilitate connection and to share about their experiences in a safe space. Each day concluded by honoring and remembering their loved ones. 

“Since Kassandra’s passing, I do everything to keep her legacy and her name alive; running marathons, putting on light shows, that was how I was grieving,” said Sammy. “But this was my first time speaking out loud about my feelings. I never talked to anyone, not even my wife, about how I was feeling. I broke down when I walked in and heard other dads were having similar feelings to what I was going through. It felt like this only happened to us, but it can happen to anyone.” 

In October, the same families gathered again at Camp for the second weekend. It was an opportunity to reunite with those they had built such a close relationship with over a short period of time. And in the spring of 2024, they will all gather together one last time, solidifying those relationships and once again honoring their children. 

“I look forward to reuniting with the families,” Sammy said. “Even though we just met a few times, we are so comfortable, and I feel like if I need anything, I can call them. That’s the feeling, when you mention about the community. It feels good to relate to others.” 

Learn more about the healing power of community and connections during the Bereavement Program here.