“It’s so important to be around people who understand what you’re going through, people who are supportive. When we come to Camp, we feel validated. We don’t have to explain anything because they’ve gone through the same struggle.”
This is the second year when Dana, her husband, and their three children — Alyssa, Peyton, and Connor — have come to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times®, and this visit was extra special. One year after having her right kidney removed and going through intense cancer treatment, Peyton is in remission.
Her family celebrated by stepping away from medical worries and embracing the joy of being together. Peyton learned how to fish. Alyssa made new friends and excelled at her cartwheel skills. And Dana and her husband, Richard, connected with an invaluable community of support.
“Someone once said, cancer is the worst way to meet the best people,” Dana says. “We’ve met so many families [at Camp] that are kind and supportive and caring and empathetic. We get to sit down and share our stories, get to listen to each other, get to be there for each other.”
At Camp, families like Peyton’s find strength for their journey and friendships to weather the storms that come with childhood illness or injury. Because you make it possible, Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California isn’t just where families stay — it’s where they’re held.
“Thank you from the bottom of our heart,” Dana shares with friends like you. “This place is a very special place — not only for the kids, but for the parents. Thank you for giving us a place where we feel safe and welcome and cared for.”
