At a time when most six-year-old girls are planning sleepover parties or pretending to be princesses, Gracie Arnold was being diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain cancer found mostly in children under the age of seven.

–Submitted by the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps

“That’s when our journey began, one that started with pain, sadness and terror, but became a journey of love, generosity, courage, support and incredible healing," recalled Laurel Finn Arnold, Gracie's mother.

Two days before Thanksgiving in 2005, Gracie started having backaches. After having a series of tests and eventually an MRI and biopsy, Gracie and her family were given her diagnosis — cancer.

After undergoing chemotherapy treatments and a new type of radiation therapy, Gracie started feeling better, but she would soon experience the adverse affects of treatment, including losing her hair. During therapy treatments, Gracie and her family learned about Hole in the Wall Camps and more specifically, Camp Boggy Creek, their camp in Florida. At first Laurel could not imagine that such a place existed where children undergoing chemotherapy treatment could have a safe camp experience and forget that they were sick.

Gracie and her family attended their first Family Retreat Weekend in April 2007. “It was such an incredible experience to know that we weren’t alone.  Camp gave Gracie and all of us the opportunity to connect with each other as well as with others in similar situations,” said Laurel.

When Gracie turned 10, she attended a weeklong summer camp session. It was the first time she had been away from home, but when she was picked up and asked if she had fun, her first comment was, “It was too short!”  

Gracie enjoyed all the activities, but her shining moment came when she overcame her uneasiness with horses and rode a special horse, also named Grace, with confidence and pride.  “Because of all the ordeals with her cancer, sometimes Gracie doesn’t know exactly where she fits in, but not when she’s at Camp Boggy Creek,” Laurel added.

Today, Gracie is back in school doing all the things that 10-year-old girls should be doing.  She has always been positive and her incredible source of strength is what helped her family cope with her life-threatening illness. “An angel on earth, that’s what Grace is,” her mom said.  We wholeheartedly agree —she is amazing!

Visit our website at www.HOLEINTHEWALLCAMPS.org to learn how you can start making a difference.