Devarda’s son, Malcolm, was in Georgetown University Hospital being treated for a brain tumor when a social worker told them about Special Love and what a great organization it was:
“She said it offered fun camp experiences to kids with life threatening illnesses, as well as family weekend camp experiences with parent sessions that allowed parents to meet each other, share their personal experiences with having a sick child, and be a support to one another.”
Devarda and Malcolm attended one of Special Love’s family weekends and she thought they were done (she says she checked it on her "To Do List"), but Malcolm had other ideas. He said he heard the other kids talking about Camp Fantastic and wanted to join them. When Devarda, who wanted to get away from all cancer reminders, asked him why in the world he wanted to go, Malcolm said, "Because Mom, I want to be with kids like me and I had fun!" It was a sobering lesson for Devarda:
“I realize that Special Love was about kinship, acceptance, belonging and having a ‘special home base’ uniquely his own.”
While Devarda and her husband, Jeff, served as camp volunteers at some of the earlier family camps they attended, it was Malcolm who continued to volunteer at Special Love activities once he was too old to be a camper. He has helped for nearly two decades, even serving a brief stint as a board member. He visits campers in the hospital and attends the occasional memorial service, including for one of his best friends who passed a year ago after relapsing. Malcolm still stays in contact with his friend's mother, grandmother, and sister.
Devarda’s attitude toward cancer – especially other families who are battling it – has changed over the years and she now gladly offers advice to those newly diagnosed or midstream in their child’s treatment:
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