My son Maxwell is my first and only child. We called him “Maxwell” for that very reason—“maximally loved.” Learning Maxwell’s diagnosis was difficult for me, but quickly turned into a passion for access to age-appropriate activities for him. Because of that, one of my wild dreams for him was to go to an overnight camp! I thought that was such a reach goal at the time, because I wasn’t aware an opportunity like Jill’s House existed in the Seattle area! I didn’t know Maxwell had the ability to be in those types of settings. At the point I was starting to look into Jill’s House, he had never been invited to a sleepover. That broke my heart because sleepovers are such a natural part of growing up. For that reason, the possibility of Jill’s House was very enticing!

However, like with everything else, considering Jill’s House became a two-pronged question: is it a resource I have access to, and is it affordable? Cost is always a factor in decision-making. I was fearful about what the cost of such an amazing program would be, but the amount of financial resources Jill’s House had to offer us was phenomenal. We don’t pay anything near what it costs to actually make camp run. For that I am so incredibly grateful!

Attending the Jill’s House open house was a really beautiful process. As I got to know the people behind Jill’s House, I saw how deeply they cared about getting to know my son holistically. They truly long to understand him. I love being a part of a community that I can grow in and trust to give me the rest I don’t get anywhere else. Up until that time, I had not had the chance to experience a break of that nature. It was so important for me to access that type of rest—to know myself in a different way. You forget who you are when you never get a break. The only “break” I used to get was when I went off to work.

When Maxwell was diagnosed, it was a crisis of faith: what does this mean for our family? Knowing that Jill’s House is a community that is for us, to give us rest, is refreshing and important. It is reliable and consistent. I can count on coming frequently and receiving rest so much more than I otherwise would.

As for Maxwell, he finally gets to be a kid! He gets to have fun with other people on the horseback rides, trying lots of different and unique activities like archery and sleeping in bunk beds – types of experiences where he is celebrated and not made to feel weird or abnormal. He gets the typical camp experience through Jill’s House, and because of that he feels so normal for once. What a way for kids like Maxwell to know that they are not alone!

To the people supporting us—I thank you for your generous hearts. What you do matters. What you do is like giving mothers like me cool water on a hot day. I hope that in hearing our story, you feel as refreshed as we are. I am so grateful that my son and I have this opportunity, and I hope Jill’s House only grows so that many other people can enjoy it, too. You are the ones who selflessly make that possible. Thank you.