The Fisher Family

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When Kaelen is at Jill’s House, I get a rare weekend to rest as a single dad. I usually stay nearby, go hiking, and enjoy some quiet. Then we talk the whole way home about everything he did.

I’m the proud dad of Kaelen. It’s just the two of us living together in South Jersey, and our bond is something truly special. Kaelen is full of life—always happy, kind, and energetic. We understand each other. He’s not just my son—he’s my teammate, travel buddy, and the motivation behind most of what I do.

We’ve been through our share of challenges, but we’ve also been really fortunate. That sense of gratitude drives us to give back. For many years, we’ve made it a mission to serve others—putting together care packages during the COVID-19 pandemic, picking up trash on Earth Day, handing out gloves in the winter, and making sandwiches for the homeless. Kaelen has been right beside me through all of it. We’ve even made it our goal to do charitable acts in all 50 states. So far, we’ve hit about 12 or 13.

Kaelen and I love to travel. Last year, we went to Japan to visit Super Nintendo World in Osaka. Besides having an awesome experience at the theme park, he loved the strawberry buffet at the hotel! In our travels, we like to mix fun with service, making memories everywhere we go.

One of the biggest blessings we’ve encountered is Jill’s House. We heard about it through a friend and decided to give it a try, even though it’s over two hours away. From that very first visit, Kaelen loved it. He especially enjoys the pool, gym, and making new friends with his “buddies.”

Jill’s House gives me peace of mind. Dropping him off there the first time was a little nerve-wracking, but I trusted the people who recommended it and was quickly reassured. Now, when Kaelen is at Jill’s House, I get a rare weekend to rest as a single dad. I usually stay nearby, go hiking, and enjoy some quiet. When it’s time for him to leave, we talk the whole way back home about everything he did. He always has stories about the buddy he was paired up with. We’re also both big foodies, and he raves about the meals at Jill’s House. It’s become part of our rhythm, something we both look forward to.

To any parent considering Jill’s House, I say it’s absolutely worth it. There’s nothing like knowing your child is safe, happy, and celebrated while you get the chance to recharge. The team at Jill’s House goes above and beyond, and they truly care. It’s not just respite; it’s a community—a lifeline. For us, it’s been the best respite program we’ve ever experienced.

Kaelen calls me “bald and beautiful,” and I’ll take it. He says I’m caring, and I’d say the same about him. We’re the Dynamic Duo. We do our best, and Jill’s House helps us keep going.

 

The Hansen Family

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Told by Grant and Julie Hansen

Olivia is 11 years old! She loves to be with people and socialize. She participates in her cheer team, plays all kinds of sports, and is a member of our local Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts troops. She also loves going out to eat and cooking food at home. She would say her least favorite thing is feeling bored, so we try to fill her days with activities she enjoys!

Olivia also loves being around people. Before she could even talk, she would manage to put herself in the middle of other kids while playing. As social as she is now, you wouldn’t be able to guess that she didn’t begin talking until after her 5th birthday!

We heard about Jill’s House from a Facebook group for parents who have children with autism. A parent mentioned that she had sent her son to Jill’s House, and he had a great time there. We had looked into other overnight opportunities for Olivia, but they either were week-long camps that we knew wouldn’t be a good fit for her or just didn’t feel right to us. However, Jill’s House and the local Garden State weekend camp were exactly what we were looking for!

Eventually, we were able to visit the camp and knew right away that it would be the perfect experience for Olivia. We wanted her to feel confident that she could be without us and still be okay. The Garden State Local Program Manager made us feel so comfortable! We were even told that if Olivia needed to talk to us at any time during her first stay, the staff would allow her to call home. But her first stay at Garden State camp was a perfect experience for her, and we didn’t hear from her at all!

Finding support is challenging. Olivia’s weekend away at camp was the first time we were alone in 11 years. We were so excited to have this time together that we probably stacked our weekend with too many fun things, but it was very special for us. The best part of our weekend by far was knowing that Olivia was safe and having a great time.

When we picked Olivia up at the end of the weekend, she got in the car and kept asking us when she could go back. Although she doesn’t share a lot of details about her time at camp, we learned that her favorite activity was the zip line, which she was able to ride twice. She also enjoyed playing in the pool and loved having a sleepover with her friend in the cabin.

We are truly grateful for Jill’s House. We think it’s amazing that Olivia has had this opportunity and that Jill’s House allows her to thrive in a safe environment among other kids. Now that her needs for social interaction with her friends are being met, it is helping her grow socially and our comfort level has grown too, because we know that Olivia will be ok.

We love Jill’s House so much!

The Ver Hage Family

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Told by Kristy and Rich Ver Hage

Shane was born in 2010 and before his first 2nd birthday, he was diagnosed with Autism. Shane is now 12 years old, and such a great kid!

Recently, Jill’s House Weekend Adventure Camp came to our area, and it has made us and Shane so happy.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, his world stopped, just like everyone else’s. Around the time things started opening back up, he fell sick with Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). In 2021, he didn’t feel well, developed brain inflammation, and started having seizures; his behavior had changed completely. Almost overnight, he went from being an active kid to not being able to walk for even five minutes without pain. It was such a shock to witness how aggressive PANS was, and how quickly it had taken control over his body.

We worked with our doctors for a long time to diagnose his condition and identify the right treatment for him. He feels much better now, and we are working really hard to help him regain his strength and energy. Due to PANS, he developed anxiety, so the Weekend Adventure Camp was very important for him! We were nervous about taking him to camp, but when we saw that volunteers who were part of our church were also going to be there with him, it put us at ease.

As much as we needed the weekend, he needed camp even more. We were so happy to learn that he climbed the rock wall! The encouragement and cheers he received motivated him, and he made it all the way to the top. He was so proud of himself for that accomplishment.

Shane attends a wonderful school, and he participates in a special needs Sunday School class at church. His world is pretty small. We know that he wants independence, but it’s hard. When he was at camp, he was independent and could do what a typically abled 12-year-old kid gets to do.

When it was time to pick Shane up on Sunday afternoon, we were so emotional and happy to see him. He was happy to see us, too. During camp, he received love, attention, and care. It was a truly special time.

Having a child with special needs is often a journey where you feel alone. We are very grateful to the many people who spent their weekend with Shane so that we could feel human again. It was amazing and a real blessing.

Shane kept saying, “I want camp,” for many days after the weekend. He has also taken on a new love of rock climbing, which we get to enjoy at a local indoor rock-climbing gym. We are so grateful for Jill’s House and look forward to many years of more weekend camp experiences. Thank you, Jill’s House, for coming to New Jersey!

Thank you for making stories like Shane’s possible.