Eve , a resilient little 4-year-old , endured hundreds of chemotherapy and steroid doses , invasive biopsies , multiple scans , and hospital stays during her 832 days of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia . It was a long and heart-wrenching journey for her parents , Meredith and Scott Gvozdas , to navigate and for her two sisters , Margaret and Mary Scott , to witness . And then came a ray of light — a pediatric oncology social worker told them they had been selected to receive a free vacation to South Walton , courtesy of Sandcastle Kids .
Sandcastle Kids , a South Walton 501c3 nonprofit , carries out its healing mission by providing all-expenses-paid vacations to families experiencing a diagnosis of childhood cancer . As you can imagine , these families undergo tremendous mental , emotional , and financial stress daily . Sandcastle Kids looks to ease that burden .
Eve was diagnosed in 2019 , and her parents spent the next two and a half years managing her exhaustive healthcare needs while also loving and supporting their two other children . The global COVID epidemic complicated matters and required extra sacrifices .
“ We had to say no a lot during that time ,” Meredith said . “ And now , all of a sudden , I was able to say yes to something !”
The Yes Week “ I called it the yes week ,” she said .
Vacations can be costly for a family of six , but every treat and whim was possible thanks to this program . From providing gorgeous beach house accommodations to exciting day excursions like dolphin tours , Sandcastle Kids ’ families are free to soak it all in and make magical memories . Sandcastle Kids also provides gift cards for expenses , restaurant vouchers , and photography sessions that local photographers donate .
“ My husband and I were floored by the level of generosity we encountered in South Walton .”
- Meredith
Power of Community Sandcastle Kids is entirely volunteer-based . Because of generous homeowners , donors , and businesses , Sandcastle Kids ’ families leave their worries at home for a week .
“ My husband and I were floored by the level of generosity we encountered in South Walton ,” she said .
Once all the families scheduled for 2022 complete their trips , Sandcastle Kids will have helped 110 families since its inception in 2015 .
Believe in Eve While the Gvozdases ’ Fall 2021 trip was planned months in advance — it just so happened that Eve was able to take her last chemo pills while on her beach trip . It was a night the family will never forget .
The morning after Eve ’ s last treatment , Meredith went for a walk on the beach . The sky was gray and ominous , but she was determined to walk out all her complicated thoughts and feelings . Her phone battery died unexpectedly , so when a huge rainbow appeared , she was disheartened to realize she could not capture it .
Noticing her frustration , a stranger offered her his phone , saying , “ I ’ ve taken some already . Please text them to yourself or take some of your own .”
Only later did the Gvozdases notice Meredith herself was in the stranger ’ s photos . There she was : the mom of a warrior , reflecting upon their storm , walking right beneath the promise of a Gulf Coast rainbow .
A year later , Eve is doing great . She is 5 now and loving life as a kindergartener . The Sandcastle Kids trip demarcated a new beginning for their entire family –– a fresh start to believe in .
360 Blue is proud of our ongoing partnership with Sandcastle Kids . To learn how to help other families , please reach out to your 360 Blue Property Manager , or visit TheSandcastleKids . com .
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