The Downer Family

Told by Lacy (Mom)

“Staff and volunteers began telling me how much Jude likes helping other campers, particularly someone who might need a little extra support. . . I knew Jude had a caring personality, but hearing these stories helped me see that part of him differently.“

My husband and I have three boys: Graham, Nathaniel, and Jude. Jude is 18, has Down syndrome, and is a junior in high school. He loves sports, being around people, and—although I didn’t fully realize it until Jill’s House—helping others.

We first heard about Jill’s House when Jude was around 13. Another dad whose son attended told me, “You should really check it out.”

I did—but I was very hesitant.

Jude had been to day camps, but he had never spent a night away from us. He also has sleep apnea and often wakes during the night. I remember thinking, How is this possibly going to work?

As we went through the admissions process, though, I began to feel more comfortable. They wanted to know so much about Jude, which told me they were taking seriously whether this would be a good fit for him. Learning about the trained staff and overnight support helped too.

And then one of Jude’s teachers told me she had volunteered with Jill’s House and said, “It’s fantastic.” That was what I needed to finally let go.

His first Weekend Adventures stay was probably harder on me than it was on him. I was grateful for the photos and updates letting me know he was safe and having a great time.

At Jill’s House Jude has loved sports, archery, horseback riding—and somehow they even got my child who hates arts and crafts to participate!

But something even more meaningful happened there.

Staff and volunteers began telling me how much Jude likes helping other campers, particularly someone who might need a little extra support. If he didn’t want to do a craft himself, he’d help someone else do it. He would notice another camper who might be struggling and wanted to help.

I knew Jude had a caring personality, but hearing these stories helped me see that part of him differently. At Jill’s House, other people saw Jude’s gift for helping others—and helped me see it, too.

I mentioned what I was hearing to his teachers, and they started noticing it too. Now they’re finding ways for him to use that strength at school. In one class, instead of putting him in a role where he was uncomfortable performing in front of a crowd, they let him help another student participate. I watched Jude guide that student onto the stage with his hand on his back.

Once we saw that gift in Jude, we started finding more places for him to use it.

Jill’s House gave the rest of our family something too. When his older brothers were home, we could focus more attention on them—sometimes something as simple as seeing a movie that Jude wouldn’t have enjoyed or watching their games without dividing our attention. As they left for college, my husband and I could go to dinner, see a movie, get things done around the house—or simply do nothing.

But what I love most is that Jill’s House is Jude’s experience. His brothers went away to camp, and Jill’s House gave Jude the chance to do something like they did. Each visit he has always come home proud of himself, carrying his own bags.