• Home
  • Events
  • Become a Jay’s HOPE GEM
  • Make a One-Time Donation
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Bubbles’ Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

  • Who We Are
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Supporters
    • Our Mission
  • Give Your Time
    • Volunteer
    • Bone Marrow Donation
    • Host an Event
  • Give Your Resources
    • Make a One-Time Donation
    • Become a Jay’s HOPE GEM
    • Collect Items for our Wish Lists
    • HOPE 4 the Holidays
  • Named Funds
    • Be Not Afraid
    • Chords of Kindness
    • Heather’s Heroes
    • Pay it ForWARD
    • Wings of HOPE
  • Events

Camp HOPE: A Week-long Escape

06/04/2019 by Christie Johnson Leave a Comment

My son, Michael, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in December 2017 during his freshman year of high school. Within two weeks he was beginning chemotherapy, and in April 2018 he underwent surgery. He had limb salvage surgery to remove the tumor, along with a portion of his leg, which was replaced with a metal rod. Then he returned to continue chemotherapy treatment for nineteen more weeks.

Like many cancer warriors, Michael was brave throughout the process and never complained. But for him, and the rest of our family, cancer definitely altered our definition of normal. Being bald and frail, using a mask to prevent catching a virus, going through physical therapy, enduring chemo, and using crutches all became my son’s new normal.

Michael missed his friends, but then we were introduced to Jay’s HOPE and invited to attend Camp HOPE 4 Kids with Cancer that summer. It was a chance for Michael to be with other teens who knew what he was going through. It was a break from taking trips to Atlanta for treatment and from catching up on school work so he wouldn’t have to repeat ninth grade. It was a chance to return to “normal”—a time without unwanted stares and feelings of not belonging. It was five days, but in that time, he formed friendships that will continue throughout his life.

We can’t thank the Jay’s HOPE Foundation enough for the smile that we saw on Michael’s face after camp and the stories he told about the fun and fellowship. Camp HOPE provides a week-long escape from this horrible disease. It’s for these reasons and many more that we hope you’ll consider supporting Camp HOPE and the many other programs offered to our local childhood cancer families through this wonderful organization.

In HOPE,

Valerie Alvarez, Jay’s HOPE Mom

You can help kids like Michael have the best week ever at Camp HOPE! To sponsor a child for camp, click here. To purchase items from our Amazon Camp Wish List, click here. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Help Jay’s HOPE

  • Make a One-Time Donation
  • Become a Jay’s HOPE GEM
  • Collect Items for our Wish Lists
  • HOPE 4 the Holidays

Our Events

  • Blind Wine Tasting
  • Hats 4 Hope
  • Hawgs 4 HOPE
  • Trek or Treat
  • Wings of HOPE

Latest from Bubbles’ Blog

  • Give HOPE: “They have been our light during our darkest days.”
  • Our HOPE is Real: Jay’s HOPE COVID-19 Update
  • Camp HOPE: A Week-long Escape
  • Thankful and Blessed on Mother’s Day
  • New Mom’s Bible Study!

Jay's HOPE is a qualified 501(c)3 organization. Tax deductible donations can be sent to:

Jay's HOPE Foundation
1157 B Forsyth Street
Macon, GA  31201

Meet Jay

Jay courageously battled a malignant brain tumor for 2 ½ years and WON as he skipped into the Gates of Heaven on March 31, 2006.

Contact Us

Jay's Hope Foundation
1157 B Forsyth Street
Macon, GA  31201

Phone: (478) 238-6360
Fax: (478) 238-6510
Email: info@jayshope.org

Copyright 2023 Jay's HOPE | 4 Kids with Cancer
Web Design & Development by Provoke Digital