When I saw a brochure about Lion’s Camp Dorset at my husband Tim’s dialysis clinic, I knew I had to investigate. Tim and I hadn’t been on a vacation together since 2019 — partly because of the pandemic, but also because of his declining kidney function. In December 2023, Tim had a heart attack and started dialysis immediately.
Fast forward to the summer of 2025, and our week at Camp Dorset felt like a breath of fresh air after the monotonous routine that dialysis brings. I was in awe of the state-of-the-art equipment, and pleasantly surprised by the jovial, positive atmosphere — thanks in large part to the incredible nurses at the centre.
We gained six hours of our lives back in just one week. By 10:30 a.m., Tim was finished dialyzing and we were good to go — we had the whole day to ourselves. It was simply amazing!
We spent our days going for walks, joining camp activities, exploring nearby Muskoka towns, or simply relaxing and soaking in the scenery and serenity. There was never a shortage of things to do. We have fond memories of the themed nights such as bonfire and potluck night.
The potluck evening was the only opportunity where each person shared their names, which centre they were from and where they were at on their kidney journey which included our own introductions as well. That was how I found out that everyone there wasn't receiving treatment. This was so profound to us to realize that the room included a man that was post transplant and living a great life. It provided us both with hope. A hope that one day that could be my husband. That we could be back at camp years after the transplant and to be able to one day provide another individual or couple with that same hope. Also to hear about someone who won't ever be transplanted but who is able to travel and live a life of quality and have enjoyment.
Camp was truly life‑changing for us. It was one of the most valuable experiences we’ve ever had.
I’m extremely grateful that Tim and I were able to go to camp, an experience which would not have been possible without the support of The Kidney Foundation. We’re far from alone — many dialysis patients face added financial worries and the stress of arranging treatment out of town, makes it incredibly difficult to take a vacation while on dialysis.
Tim and I plan to apply to go back in 2026. If I had to sum up our camp experience, I could only say that it was beyond our expectations!
