It’s been eight years since Ashley Solano’s daughter, Anna, died of myocarditis at age 13 months. When Solano saw a flyer for Bo’s Bereavement Camp in a pediatrician’s office, she hoped it would be an opportunity to get help not only navigating her own grief, but help for her children as well.
“I wanted my children to connect with other children, and have adults who could help them in ways that I could not,” she said.
Solano’s two oldest children had a deep connection with Anna, and even though her two youngest never knew their sister, they’ve grown up seeing photos of her at home.
“Anna was a ray of sunshine who loved being outside, looking at bugs and animals. Her older siblings made her laugh with a belly chuckle. She loved it when I sang to her,” Solano said.
She credits Bo’s Camp – a family-centered camp offered for children and their parents or guardians who have experienced the death of a family member or other significant person in their lives – as part of her family’s healing journey.
Attending camp, Solano saw her older daughter open up, showing a different side as she talked with counselors.
“It helped her in the healing process,” Solano said about her daughter, an artist who was able to connect with counselors and other kids through art, sports and even snack time. “Just being around people who understand, they put this together so well. It fits us like a glove.”
This is the 11th year that Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital will host Bo’s Camp. Taking place Sept. 27-29 at Camp John Hope in Fort Valley, the weekend camp is designed to help children and adults learn to deal with their grief and begin the journey toward healing.
At Bo’s Camp, campers will have the opportunity to meet other families with similar experiences. The camp is divided into peer groups accommodating children, teenagers and parents/guardians. Campers will participate in family activities and age-appropriate grief sessions. There will be fun activities such as arts and crafts, a pool party, rock climbing, hiking and a ropes course. The weekend ends with a memorial service for the family members who are being mourned.
Sponsored by Atrium Health Levine Children’s and the Navicent Health Foundation, Bo’s Camp is staffed with a trained group of professionals that encourage campers to share memories of their loved one and learn healthy coping skills. The staff includes social workers, child life specialists, transition counselors, nurses, chaplains, physicians and community volunteers.
“It’s so important for families who have lost a loved one to know that it is okay to smile again, and we’re proud to again be providing a helping hand in families’ healing journey,” said Diana Sutton, chief nurse officer at Atrium Health Levine Children’s in Macon. “At Bo’s Camp, children and adults can learn healthy coping skills and how to reconnect as a family and have fun.”
Grief is still a process for Solano and her family, and she said she recognizes they need to continue to grow in their grief, “because that’s the only way we can move forward.” They plan to attend camp again this year, but for Solano this year’s Bo’s Camp will be part of a different chapter in her healing journey.
“I want to be a light for someone else who is struggling,” she said.
If you or a loved one is struggling with grief, click here to learn more about Bo’s Camp. The camp is free to participants, but registration is required. Applications should be submitted online by Sept. 20. For general inquiries, call 478-633-1503.
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