How do parents talk to their kids about the flooding in Central Texas?

First, allow the child to approach you and see what type of questions they have. Let them speak freely and stick to age-appropriate facts, while also validating their emotions or what they might be expressing.

You do not want to give them too much information or detail because they may become more overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious about the situation.

How do you make your child feel comfortable approaching you with their concerns and emotions?

We always want the child to approach us without us putting our perspective into the situation. I would try sitting at the table together, bringing out what they love best. For example, a 5-year-old might like to color, or a 12-year-old may enjoy crafting. Let them take part in the activity and ask them how they feel about the recent events.

 If they do bring it up, this is when you can put them at ease by talking through their feelings. You can tell them, "Okay. Let's do this activity together and as we're doing this activity, let's express how we are feeling."    

Let them guide the conversation. Listening and answering questions age appropriately while reassuring them.

Why is it important to have conversations with your children?

We must talk to them because not talking about it can cause trauma, distress, anxiety and even PTSD. Children might see the news and reflect on themselves, thinking, "It could happen to me."

Parents and caregivers should explain that you are there for them. If the child is going to camp and has concerns, families can come up with a plan to offer reassurance.

What should parents do if their child is worried, but they, too, are grappling with their own emotions?

If you are not ready to have the conversation, we can assist them or have the other parent/ caregiver step in.  It is always great to have someone who is calm and collected, rather than someone who is anxious, overwhelmed and distressed, because you will just pass on that anxiety to the child.

Cook Children’s wants to reassure parents and caregivers that you are not alone. If you are not ready to have the conversation, you can seek professional help.  Learn more about Cook Children's behavioral health services or to schedule an appointment for your child, contact 682-885-3917.

When should you seek out professional help?

 If your child is having symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Feelings of overwhelm
• Feelings of helplessness
• Jittery
• Difficulty concentrating
• They are not able to do their daily routine.

Learn more about Cook Children's resources online and behavioral health services.  Families can access mental health resources 24/7 through MHMR by calling 1-800-866-2465.

“I dropped off Avyee and asked my dad if I could go one more ride,” Wyatt recalls.

Jimmy agreed. Wyatt drove to a new subdivision, where many of the homes were still being built or were vacant. The road was unpaved. Wyatt hit loose gravel while making a sharp turn, causing his golf cart to tip over. The cart landed on his foot, causing severe injuries.

“I was yelling for help,” said Wyatt.

The accident happened in front of a home where a family had just moved in that day. The mother there picked up Wyatt and rushed him to his home. As the unfamiliar car pulled up with Wyatt, Avyee rushed inside to tell April.

“I got outside and just saw this stranger holding Wyatt like a baby, and Jimmy wrapping his feet in a swim towel,” April said.

Jimmy sprang into action, grabbing his car keys and rushing him to the local emergency room, where Wyatt was stabilized and transferred to Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth.

The 11-year-old’s innocent evening stroll ended with scattered road rash along his side, three broken bones, and two ripped tendons.

April shares that it was not until the next day, when they met with the plastic surgeon, that they realized the severity and trauma their family had endured.

“I realized this is our new reality right now,” April said. “We’d have full days of surgeries, with doctors and nurses constantly in and out.”

During the first few days, the Hatchers were overwhelmed with friends and family pouring in to tend to their two youngest children at home. Their youngest was just 8 months old and breastfeeding. It was then that she realized the trauma affected her whole family.

She recalls one moment in the hospital where she was caring for Wyatt and his baby brother, Bodynn. April explained to Wyatt that while the trauma happened to him, it affected everyone.

She told him, "You must be patient versus expectant. We are all learning new things."

“It was a hard lesson for him, and just a beautiful opportunity to remind him that he was the one in the hospital bed, but it was changing all of our lives,” April said.

In the two years since the accident, Wyatt has undergone 11 surgeries and one tendon release. Wyatt's last tendon release surgery with a podiatrist will be when he is 18.

He says it was the words of an anesthesiologist that helped him face those surgeries head-on.

“He said, ‘When you face a challenge, you have to meet it, greet it, and then defeat it,’” Wyatt recalls.

Camp RISE

The family came to know their Cook Children’s child life specialist well. She suggested they attend Cook Children’s Trauma Support Group. Through the group, they learned about Camp RISE, a camp focused on families who have experienced a traumatic event. The camp helps families build coping skills, process trauma, and meet other families, all while taking part in fun activities like zip lining.

“It was an escape from the city life,” April said. “Being out where the stars are so numerous and it's just an oasis, and it’s just such an excitement.”

As the Hatchers arrived for their first day of camp, they were greeted with cheers and welcomed to their private cabin. Avyee, Bodynn, Wyatt, Jimmy, and April were excited for the experience.

Wyatt admits his favorite part of camp was archery, but during his second year, he felt compelled to encourage other children through their trauma. He credits Matthew 17:20-21 for finding that courage.

“If you have faith, faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell a mountain to move and jump,” Wyatt recites.

To Wyatt, it was about giving hope to someone else.

“This is never going to be normal, but it will become a new normal, and it's going to be okay eventually,” said Wyatt.

After two years at Camp RISE, the Hatcher family graduated in 2024. April said it was a bittersweet moment. The family received a book signed by all the Trauma Support Group staff.

“The ripples were extensive, in what they had us do,” April said. “It’s just a scaffold to bring such healing.”

Just two weeks after the accident, wound vac and all, Wyatt used the anesthesiologist’s wise words to conquer any fears or hesitation he had about getting back in the golf cart. His dad placed him in the seat and gently drove him around the front yard, eventually taking him on the road.

Two years later, at 13, he shows his scar without hesitation. He openly shares and explains the accident with maturity.  

 For Wyatt’s 13^th birthday, he wanted to see starfish and swim with the dolphins. It was being with the dolphins that captivated him. He now has aspirations of becoming a Marineland dolphin trainer.

During that birthday adventure, April says Wyatt found his voice. On his own, while his parents watched, the 13-year-old had to explain to employees and the dolphin trainer why he wears a scuba sock on his injured foot. A scuba sock was something dolphins had never seen before. The trainer told Wyatt he would teach the dolphin what the sock was.

"It was the coolest moment for our kid," April said. "He just walked away with so much more confidence."

Breaking Barriers Through Movement

iCan Shine's mission is to provide quality learning opportunities in recreational activities for individuals with disabilities. Through their specialized programs—iCan Bike, iCan Dance, and iCan Swim—participants are empowered to challenge themselves to learn these activities in supportive, encouraging environments. This summer, Cook Children’s will host iCan Bike and iCan Dance in Fort Worth.

Research shows that over 80% of people with Autism and 90% of people with Down syndrome never learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle during their lifetime, yet approximately 80% of iCan Bike participants learn to ride a conventional two-wheel bicycle independently by the end of the five-day program.

Similarly, the iCan Dance program teaches participants complete dance routines that they perform for friends and family on the final day of camp—instilling confidence, joy, and a love for movement.

A Legacy of Success

Lexi Woolsey, 21, will be attending her fifth year at iCan Dance camp this summer. When asked what she loves most about the program, Lexi said, "Getting to spend time with friends, meet new people and learn dances."

Her mother, Kim Woolsey, has been a consistent champion of the program. "I'm impressed with the instructors,” she said. “These kids learn multiple dances in such a short amount of time.”

For many participants and their families, these camps offer more than just the opportunity to learn a new skill—they provide a sense of accomplishment and independence.

"She lights up. Dance is good therapy for her," Kim Woolsey said about Lexi.

Joselyn Arnold, 21, who has been friends with Lexi since they were three years old, has attended both iCan Bike and iCan Dance. Though she’s had great experiences at both, she particularly loves attending iCan Dance with Lexi. She shared her enthusiasm for the program by exclaiming, "I want to marry it!"

Both young women have found the camps to be places where they can express themselves, grow in confidence, and build their friendship.

"Every year that we go, I've seen progress in Joselyn," Brandy Arnold said. "The first year we went, I bawled like a baby because it was so cool to see various kids with disabilities being engaged in something that they love."

A Program for Everyone

The iCan Shine programs are designed to accommodate participants with a wide range of abilities and needs.

"It's for all levels of disabilities," Brandy Arnold emphasized. "It's for everyone, and that's what I think is so inspiring… they leave smiling and feeling confident about themselves."

When asked what she would say to encourage someone to join the iCan Dance Camp, Lexi Woolsey offered this advice: "I would tell them how much fun it is, you get to meet new friends, and don't worry. It's all about having fun."

Parents, who typically wait in a separate room throughout the duration of classes, also find reassurance in these programs’ structure. "We can hear how much fun they're having, so you know they're all well protected,” said Kim Woolsey. “I have absolutely no worries when I am there with her.”

Two Exciting Camps Coming to Fort Worth

This summer, Cook Children's will co-host the following iCan Shine camps in Fort Worth:

●     iCan Bike: June 2-6, 2025 at GameOn Sports Complex

●     iCan Dance: June 23-27, 2025 at Southwest Christian School

Both camps run for five consecutive days, with participants attending 75-minute sessions each day. The camps are designed for individuals ages eight and up, with each session accommodating a small group of participants to ensure everyone receives personalized attention.

Learn More and Register

For more information about the iCan Shine programs, visit their website at https://icanshine.org/.

To register for camp, visit:

• iCan Bike Fort Worth: https://icanshine.org/ican-bike-fort-worth-tx/
• iCan Dance Fort Worth: https://icanshine.org/ican-dance-fort-worth-tx/

The first time I ever heard taps play was at the end of my first day at summer camp. That was a part of the “day is done” ritual for the hundreds of kids attending camp each week. It is now over 10 years after the end of my camp career, and still I hear taps and instantly recall the distinct smell of campfire, the itchiness of a thousand mosquito bites, the confidence of unexpected successes and the excitement of new friendships. Summer camp changed me; an effect that has lingered over more than a decade. In fact, it is hard for me to imagine who I would be as an adult if not for that influential childhood experience.

Above the fireplace where I went to camp hung the following quote: “sometimes the best way to find out who you are is to go to a place where you don't have to be anything else.” Nothing could better sum up why the camp experience was so important to me and why I think it is important for kids of all ages and abilities. As adults, we understand the power that lies within some fresh air and a change of scenery. For kids, this is a necessary experience to promote independence, nurture curiosity, and empower their natural desire to establish relationships with peers. At camp, kids get to choose who they want to be in a group of what is usually kids from varying walks of life. They are challenged to put themselves out there, try new things, fail, succeed, giggle, interact with nature, and create memories that last a lifetime.

As a child life specialist at Cook Children’s, I also think camp is particularly good for kids in terms of helping them develop coping skills. While away at camp, kids may face minor injuries like scrapes or bug bites, they may find that 9 p.m. calls upon a feeling of homesickness, they may disagree with a cabin-mate, or even be asked to face a fear, like climbing a rock wall or jumping into a lake. In any of the above instances, kids must figure out how to problem-solve, how to make a choice, or how to seek support from others. Few experiences in childhood allow such freedom to just be and what a gift that is.

Every kid should experience summer camp. At Cook Children’s, we certainly believe that to be true. We offer camps for a wide range of kids, from ages 5 to 21 years of age, with developmental and or physical activities. Learn more at this website and see if there’s a camp that fits your child’s needs.

For more information on what makes camp great, or to find an accredited camp for your child, visit the American Camp Association (ACA) at www.acacamps.org