You can help a grieving child

Joshua used to be a very outgoing young man. Now he stays in his room and won’t talk to his mom. Even worse, he’s having trouble controlling his anger. Just the other day, he punched a hole in his bedroom wall.

Joshua’s sister, Julie, is also having problems. Her grades are slipping, and she refuses to study or finish her homework. Her lack of emotion is disturbing. She just doesn’t seem to care about anything right now.

Is it drugs? Have they fallen in with the wrong crowd? It would be easy to jump to these conclusions, but Joshua and Julie are not troubled teens. The truth is they are grieving. You see, Joshua and Julie’s dad died a few months ago after a courageous battle against cancer.

Carle Hospice was there for Joshua and Julie’s dad, providing comfort and support in the final weeks of his life. This fall, Carle Hospice wants to be there for Joshua and Julie, too, and others like them. Camp Healing Heart is their answer.

This weekend camp helps children ages 7 to 17 navigate their way through the grieving process. It’s the only camp of its kind in east central Illinois. The goal is to offer the camp without fee to grieving families. Charitable gifts will allow grieving children and teens to find comfort and learn how to cope with their loss.

Losing a loved one is never easy. It’s especially difficult for children. Hospice counselors have seen firsthand the devastation the death of a loved one can cause in young lives. Their limited life experience makes it hard for them to move through the stages of grief. And the way they handle their loss can have lifelong consequences.

Children respond to the death of a loved one in different ways. Just look at Joshua and Julie. Joshua has become withdrawn and angry, while Julie shows signs of fear. She sleeps with the light on and won’t let her mom out of her sight. She’s afraid she won’t come back.

At Camp Healing Heart, trained volunteers will help Joshua and Julie make sense of their emotional reactions to loss. The camp promotes healing by letting kids express themselves, be heard, meet others in similar situations and remember and honor those they have lost.

The goal of Camp Healing Heart is to provide grieving children and teens:

·        The comfort of knowing they are not alone.

·        The permission to grieve, remember and talk about their loss.

·        Healthy coping skills.

·        Methods to understand and express their emotions.

·        An opportunity to share their feelings of isolation.

·        Support in a safe, structured environment.

While Joshua and Julie are not the first kids to experience the loss of a loved one, they can be among the first 40 kids to attend Camp Healing Heart. But only with your help.

Your gift will make it easier for Joshua and Julie to talk openly about their grief. Your gift will help them learn that what they are feeling is okay and that they will not always hurt this bad. Your gift will let them know they are not alone, that they have support whenever they need or want it. And your gift will allow them to be kids again and have fun without feeling guilty.

Camp Healing Heart runs October 14 through October 16.

Please help us fund this unique opportunity for kids in our area. Make a charitable gift in support of Camp Healing Heart by clicking on "Make A Gift Now" or contacting The Carle Development Foundation at (217) 383-3021.