Mom Had Nowhere to Turn

But you helped Mary and her three children be a family again!

Braeden and his family

I Felt Like a Failure

“I felt like a failure as a parent,” Mary explains. “I didn’t know how I was going to get my son to function in society. I didn’t have any friends whose children acted like this. I didn’t know where to turn. It was very lonely and exhausting.

“Our family was a mess. Braeden had a lot of behavior issues at home and school. He was on a lot of medications. He was punching holes in the walls and tearing up everything he could get his hands on. He was very defiant. There was a lot of yelling and screaming. It caused a lot of stress.

“Something had to change. One of his teachers suggested Fair Play Camp School and I gave them a call.”

They Understood What I was Going Through

“When the family worker came for the first visit, it was such a godsend,” Mary remembers. “It was an instant relief that there were people who cared for boys like Braeden. His behavior was nothing new to them and they were perfectly okay with it. They let me know that I was not alone.”

Today, He’s a Normal Teenage Boy

Today, life is very different for Mary and her three children. “He’s your typical 14-year-old teenager. I never thought I would be able to say that. He is off all of his medications.

“He loves to play and argue with his sisters. He is remorseful when he hurts someone’s feelings. He is constantly telling us how much he loves us. He’ll talk about anything. He had a summer job and was able to save up some money. He loves to work and learn.

“Before you could tell that something was missing inside. But now he is full of life, energy and positivity.”

Thanks to you, this family is enjoying life together today. “I can’t imagine not being able to have this opportunity,” Mary said. “Thank you for giving families like ours a chance to be made whole.”