Five-year-old Mason lives in Ashford with his brother and parents. Whenever he gets the chance, Mason loves to be outside. He enjoys playing fetch with his dog, Revna, playing with his swords, as well as pretending to go back to prehistoric times by playing with his dinosaur toys.

Mason’s heartfelt wish was to go camping in the warm weather when he knew his health would be better. With constant treatments and procedures to manage his blood disorder condition, staying somewhere that was nothing like a doctor’s office or hospital was so exciting for Mason. He could not wait to sleep in a cabin, toast marshmallows on the open fire and fall asleep at night under the stars.

Mason and his family got hard to work preparing for their camping excursion. Although Make-A-Wish Connecticut did almost all of the planning, Mason had to make sure all the camping essentials were packed and ready to go. This included sunscreen, bug spray, and all the necessary clothing: swimsuits for swimming, casual clothes for hanging out and rain gear if the weather chose not to cooperate.

When it was finally his wish day, Mason could barely contain his excitement. He was practically bouncing off the walls, ready to see what Make-A-Wish Connecticut had in store for the trip they had been planning for him and his family to Jellystone Park Resort in Gardiner, NY. When the family arrived at their destination, Mason was thrilled to a see a log cabin outfitted with all the bells and whistles. Over the next week, Mason went swimming, he explored the outdoors, and of course no camping trip would be complete without a campfire and s’mores.

Mason received an unforgettable camping experience and memories that will last a lifetime. This was more than just a trip; it was an escape for Mason from his daily grind and regular routine that re-energized both him and his family.