This new life, post diagnosis, is here to stay. Our first
reaction was disbelief. Our beautiful little boy was to face over
three years of chemo. We did just what we had to, to get
through each day. Somehow the days turned into weeks, weeks into
months, and months into years. In the background, we heard
about Camp Quality. Our instincts kicked in - the 'let's do
something the kids will enjoy' kind. We took the first step and
called CQ.
From that first telephone call, the 'why didn't we do this
sooner?' thought couldn't have been stronger. But as with
everything now, it happened when we were ready - and CQ was there
ready to embrace us when we called.
The words that come to mind when we think of CQ: understanding,
compassionate, kind, gentle, listening, generous and fun. Each camp
that our family has been on, has had people with all of these
qualities. We are each looked after so wonderfully.
After you stop your tears because you can't believe someone is
actually looking after you, the parent, you can sit back and watch
your children laughing and having fun.
There have been motorbike rides, skiing lessons, paddle-steamer
trips, football games, fancy dinner evenings - and that's just for
the parents! The kids get that and more. CQ are people giving other
people a break. CQ are people who really care. We didn't want any
of this. None of us do. But CQ has the medicine we want to give our
kids - laughter. But for us parents, it is so much more.
Tina, Simon, Ciaran, Andre and Xavier Fitzpatrick
