Camden

You just never know what life is going to throw at you. One tragedy should make a family immune to another.

We are part of an organization called Best Day Ever Foundation. It supports families who have lost children. Founded by Amy and Greg Kappen, Best Day Ever provides getaways for families such as a camping weekend at Kings Island, Spa Days, etc.

We’ve been participating for about four or five years. We’ve been to two of the camping events. Well, glamping. We stay in cabins, share meals, and have a lantern-launching ceremony to honor our children who have gone before us.

We could only make one night of the weekend this year. It was a rainy one, so we couldn’t do the gathering we normally do with the families around the courtyard. Children were doing their thing, riding scooters, driving golf carts, and being kids. We noticed one notable absence. We couldn’t make it last year. But there was a beautiful boy who everyone knew. He zoomed around on his scooter, talking to everyone, telling them about his little brother who was no longer with us.

The last time we were there, I helped him light his lantern for his brother.

Amy started her speech after dinner and mentioned him. Everyone in the room immediately knew who she was talking about. We all were wondering where he was.

Then, she said it. He had been in a car accident three weeks earlier. He did not survive the accident. He went to see his brother.

I heard he looked forward to the event every year. Talked about it all the time. But he began talking about seeing his brother.

Life is so unfair sometimes. So beautiful. Yet it can be so cruel. I don’t have anything profound to say. I just had to write about this. Camden, we all miss you. Give your brother a hug for all of us.