Running, laughing, and excitement are typical scenes at any summer camp, but at WCK City Camp they mean so much more.
In a single day in December 2021, the Joshi family’s world shattered. Within 12 hours of bringing nine-year-old Aadi to emergency, Hema Joshi was facing her son’s leukemia diagnosis and giving consent for chemotherapy treatment. She didn’t sleep for the next two weeks.
At home, Aadi’s younger brother Neil was having a hard time, too. His world had been turned upside down and he started getting angry and having trouble at school.
“As a parent it is so hard to see both of your kids struggling,” says Hema. “One with cancer and the other emotionally and mentally.”
In March 2022, Aadi and Neil started participating in WCK’s online programming, and this year they both joined WCK in person for Spring Break Camp and Summer City Camp. For Hema, the difference she has seen in her boys is incredible.
“WCK really helped both of my kids with their mental health,” she says. “After going to camp I saw them excited, happy, talking about activities, and thinking about what they will do tomorrow.”
Most importantly for Hema, WCK City Camp helped her son get his independence back.
Aadi has a hard time walking due to the side effects of his chemotherapy, and usually holds on to his mother’s hand because he is afraid of falling. At camp, she saw him walking alone without any help and trying to run towards her.
“It was the best thing,” she says. “It gave me happy tears.”
It is only because of partners like Care Camps that we can bring moments like these to families who have been through so much. WCK City Camp provides a safe, inclusive, and medically supervised space for kids going through childhood cancer or blood disorders and their siblings, at absolutely no cost to the family. Thank you for partnering with WCK and bringing the magic of camp to families who need it the most.