In a matter of minutes, the river took it all—one hundred summers of enchanted girlhood, gone. Camp Mystic, the songs, the cabins, generations of sacred routine, washed away.
Lovely piece, the magic of summer camp is simply unable to be adequately described in words on a screen/paper. I attended Heart O’ the Hills, as a camper and then counselor, just down river from Mystic - we always looked up at its sign shining brightly in those beautiful hills at night. My soul grieves so deeply for those little girls, and all the campers/counselors who were at Mystic - as well as their family. Jane was the director of HoH, and was truly an angel on this earth. True to nature, she sacrificed her life attempting to alert the counselors that were on campus. Heart was completely destroyed and it is by the grace of God there were no campers yet, as I don’t think any of them would have survived. It is so painful to see one of the places that served as such a safe haven of my rather difficult childhood be absolutely torn to shreds, and then to see outsiders being so hateful. Thank you for shining a light on its magic ✨
Absolutely heartbreaking. Thank you for providing words for us when it’s impossible to find them for ourselves. We mourn and grieve these precious lives and pray for peace beyond understanding for their families and friends.
it’s not gone 💚 the Mystic spirit lives in every single girl who has passed thru those green gates and every one she has touched with the Love and Joy of camp and everything it represents. This is the spirit of Mystic - full of God, full of song, full of hope, full of light in the darkness, full of sisterhood and hugs and wiping away the tears of the sorrow and pain we all feel. It is community, it is empathy, it is kindness and gentleness and the fruits of the spirit 💚🙏🏼🤍 It is bravery and strength. Love, a former Camp Mystic camper and counselor
I live in the community where she practices (well, practiced…the group she’s with put out a statement that she’s on administrative leave). I’ve seen her recommended time and again on neighborhood pages looking for pediatrician recs. Many of these girls are local to our area and seemingly everyone knows someone who knows them. The air is heavy in our community. I cannot fathom ANYONE saying the things she did, let alone a pediatrician and one whose patients could be among the missing. May she never care for a child again.
Honestly, I don't think she should practice medicine on anyone. She obviously can't see people as just people. She can only see politics, which makes her unable to provide appropriate care. It's really disgusting.
Truly the divisive attitude people have that causes them to have such an inhumane attitude towards others with differing opinions is appalling. Especially for a person who has taken the hippocratic oath.
It seems easier to be upset than feel helpless and devastated. It’s so horrifying. Something in our minds wants to take the sadness we can’t do anything with and turn it into outrage. It gives us a sense of more control than we would if we just felt the depths of how sad and irreversible it is. I have children the same age as these precious girls and I’m having a hard time stomaching this and knowing how to pray. But I know “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted,” is a promise. They may not feel comfort on a timeline they want but it will come at some point. This is so incredibly sad.
"Certain tragedies stay lodged in the mind because they’re impossible to reconcile." THIS.
One of my biggest struggles in motherhood is combating all the feelings that come with not having tabs on my kids' well-being when they're not around me. I can't imagine sending your child off to camp and waking up to that news. Praying for all those families.
Thank you for writing this. Hearing stories of some of these counselors boys and girls at different camps along the Guadalupe River. Living in Texas I’ve seen that weather can change without any notice. Sometimes it’s truly unpredictable. I’m praying for all the families who still have missing girls (11 still unaccounted for) and those who knew the girls. The camp communities are unlike any other. 💔
Beautifully written. My youngest son attended La Junta, a boys camp down the river. The counselors were there this weekend, training in anticipation of the next term’s boys arriving soon ( due today I think 7/6). The counselors jumped into the river to save Mystic campers as their cabin floated by. I heard this story second- hand, so there are probably some errors, but thank God for the everyday angels and heroes in Kerr County right now.
La Junta did have campers in the cabins I understand. Two brothers were interviewed. All those at La Junta survived. The counselors were true heroes guiding them all to safety as they swam out of their cabins to higher ground.
The story turns out to be false? Updated 5 minutes ago:
"Editor’s Note: Like everyone, we wanted this story to be true, but it’s a classic tale of misinformation that consumes all of us during a natural disaster. Unfortunately, the story is not true and we are retracting it. — Louis Amestoy, editor of The Kerr County Lead"
Jessica thank you so much for this beautiful piece. Thank you for shedding light on what is the most excruciating, unfathomable time in our great state that we love so much. These camps are unique and iconic parts of our DNA and our history. Grandmothers, mothers, sisters - so much legacy, joy, and pride.
May the Houston pediatrician never work a day in her life again. She sounds mentally ill and she is - like so many hateful hateful liberals. Texas is a very big state but we are lucky that when tragedy occurs it turns into a small town - from Houston to Dallas to San Antonio to Tyler and Beaumont. Everyone knows someone who has lost someone and the fact you are putting your effort in to help how you can just reaffirms how much we love you, cherish your brilliant work, and want to host your family at our beach house in SC when you all can. All of my love to the Krause family. Thank you.
I think it’s cruel and heartless to NOT question geo engineering and weather manipulation. It’s factually occurring yet so many are completely unaware. Many will blame an act of God- but is it really? It’s a senseless tragedy and as a Texan and as a mother I am deeply grieved. I find some solace in the fact that those girls were prayed over, that probably the last words spoken over them were prayers and that they were covered in a sense of deep peace as they were called home to heaven. They know they were loved deeply by their creator and some people reach adulthood not knowing that deep love and peace. Praying so hard for those families and central Texans.
Jess, your writing is always so deep and the way you are able to put delicate details into words that evoke such emotion and relatability is admirable. 5 generations of women in my family attended Camp Waldemar, (including myself and my daughter) another girls camp near Camp Mystic. I have been an absolute wreck since hearing the news and this brought out an ugly cry for me; for the parents and families of the tight knit camp community who are still desperately clinging to hope and searching for their babies, for the families of those who were spending the fourth vacationing and celebrating, only to wake up to a nightmare that seems like it could only happen in the movies, and those who are mourning the loss of life. It’s so incredibly unfortunate that politics, which have absolutely nothing to do with this tragedy, have once again divided people as you describe. It makes me furious. Blame has no place in the face of a natural disaster. The lack of empathy from doubters and keyboard warriors is disgusting. Thank you for doing everything you possibly could to spread information for the missing and offer ways to help. Using your platform for good, instead of looking for a place to lay blame or cause further division. Your words are always profound and I appreciate you, and I know many others feel the same.
Lovely piece, the magic of summer camp is simply unable to be adequately described in words on a screen/paper. I attended Heart O’ the Hills, as a camper and then counselor, just down river from Mystic - we always looked up at its sign shining brightly in those beautiful hills at night. My soul grieves so deeply for those little girls, and all the campers/counselors who were at Mystic - as well as their family. Jane was the director of HoH, and was truly an angel on this earth. True to nature, she sacrificed her life attempting to alert the counselors that were on campus. Heart was completely destroyed and it is by the grace of God there were no campers yet, as I don’t think any of them would have survived. It is so painful to see one of the places that served as such a safe haven of my rather difficult childhood be absolutely torn to shreds, and then to see outsiders being so hateful. Thank you for shining a light on its magic ✨
I have always said once you become a mother it’s like a piece of your heart is outside your body running around
Me TOO! The second my first baby was born! It hit me like a ton of bricks! That exact sentiment.
Absolutely heartbreaking. Thank you for providing words for us when it’s impossible to find them for ourselves. We mourn and grieve these precious lives and pray for peace beyond understanding for their families and friends.
Jessica, this post is beautifully written. Thank you! 💔😢🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
❤️❤️❤️❤️
it’s not gone 💚 the Mystic spirit lives in every single girl who has passed thru those green gates and every one she has touched with the Love and Joy of camp and everything it represents. This is the spirit of Mystic - full of God, full of song, full of hope, full of light in the darkness, full of sisterhood and hugs and wiping away the tears of the sorrow and pain we all feel. It is community, it is empathy, it is kindness and gentleness and the fruits of the spirit 💚🙏🏼🤍 It is bravery and strength. Love, a former Camp Mystic camper and counselor
Thank you for sharing ❤️
Thank you for everything you do. I love your writing and your journalism, as a journalist myself. 💚💚💚
God bless you, this gave me chills. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Wow. That pediatrician is absolutely disgusting. I hope she is fired ASAP!
I live in the community where she practices (well, practiced…the group she’s with put out a statement that she’s on administrative leave). I’ve seen her recommended time and again on neighborhood pages looking for pediatrician recs. Many of these girls are local to our area and seemingly everyone knows someone who knows them. The air is heavy in our community. I cannot fathom ANYONE saying the things she did, let alone a pediatrician and one whose patients could be among the missing. May she never care for a child again.
Honestly, I don't think she should practice medicine on anyone. She obviously can't see people as just people. She can only see politics, which makes her unable to provide appropriate care. It's really disgusting.
Truly the divisive attitude people have that causes them to have such an inhumane attitude towards others with differing opinions is appalling. Especially for a person who has taken the hippocratic oath.
UPDATE. I think she was fired.
It seems easier to be upset than feel helpless and devastated. It’s so horrifying. Something in our minds wants to take the sadness we can’t do anything with and turn it into outrage. It gives us a sense of more control than we would if we just felt the depths of how sad and irreversible it is. I have children the same age as these precious girls and I’m having a hard time stomaching this and knowing how to pray. But I know “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted,” is a promise. They may not feel comfort on a timeline they want but it will come at some point. This is so incredibly sad.
"Certain tragedies stay lodged in the mind because they’re impossible to reconcile." THIS.
One of my biggest struggles in motherhood is combating all the feelings that come with not having tabs on my kids' well-being when they're not around me. I can't imagine sending your child off to camp and waking up to that news. Praying for all those families.
Thank you for writing this. Hearing stories of some of these counselors boys and girls at different camps along the Guadalupe River. Living in Texas I’ve seen that weather can change without any notice. Sometimes it’s truly unpredictable. I’m praying for all the families who still have missing girls (11 still unaccounted for) and those who knew the girls. The camp communities are unlike any other. 💔
Beautifully written. My youngest son attended La Junta, a boys camp down the river. The counselors were there this weekend, training in anticipation of the next term’s boys arriving soon ( due today I think 7/6). The counselors jumped into the river to save Mystic campers as their cabin floated by. I heard this story second- hand, so there are probably some errors, but thank God for the everyday angels and heroes in Kerr County right now.
La Junta did have campers in the cabins I understand. Two brothers were interviewed. All those at La Junta survived. The counselors were true heroes guiding them all to safety as they swam out of their cabins to higher ground.
Yes, thanks you for correcting my info. I learned later that there were La Junta campers there.
2 little girls were just found in a tree 27ft up. 🙌🏼😭
https://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/tncms/asset/editorial/55a5d943-52a4-4fb9-a737-407686a58455/
thank you for the update!
It’s a miracle. I pray there are more of these miracles.
It says it isn’t true and the story was redacted.
This is a false report, unfortunately. Authorities and local news is trying to set the record straight… 😢
The story turns out to be false? Updated 5 minutes ago:
"Editor’s Note: Like everyone, we wanted this story to be true, but it’s a classic tale of misinformation that consumes all of us during a natural disaster. Unfortunately, the story is not true and we are retracting it. — Louis Amestoy, editor of The Kerr County Lead"
REALLY?!
Let me find the article I’ve seen it on a few of the Texas pages I follow.
So heartbreaking. I have so many questions as to how that was shared and not be accurate. It wasn’t just them who posted about it either. 💔😭
Sadly, this story has turned out not to be true. The editor retracted the story a few minutes ago saying it was false. 💔
This is amazing!!! 🙌🏻 absolute miracle
Unfortunately the story was updated 10 minutes ago to say it was false and the rescue did not happen & the editor retracted it. Heartbreaking!
Oh no that is terrible 😭 thank you for updating
Excellently written Jessica. You've captured all the angles of this tragedy, especially as a mother only could.
Jessica thank you so much for this beautiful piece. Thank you for shedding light on what is the most excruciating, unfathomable time in our great state that we love so much. These camps are unique and iconic parts of our DNA and our history. Grandmothers, mothers, sisters - so much legacy, joy, and pride.
May the Houston pediatrician never work a day in her life again. She sounds mentally ill and she is - like so many hateful hateful liberals. Texas is a very big state but we are lucky that when tragedy occurs it turns into a small town - from Houston to Dallas to San Antonio to Tyler and Beaumont. Everyone knows someone who has lost someone and the fact you are putting your effort in to help how you can just reaffirms how much we love you, cherish your brilliant work, and want to host your family at our beach house in SC when you all can. All of my love to the Krause family. Thank you.
I think it’s cruel and heartless to NOT question geo engineering and weather manipulation. It’s factually occurring yet so many are completely unaware. Many will blame an act of God- but is it really? It’s a senseless tragedy and as a Texan and as a mother I am deeply grieved. I find some solace in the fact that those girls were prayed over, that probably the last words spoken over them were prayers and that they were covered in a sense of deep peace as they were called home to heaven. They know they were loved deeply by their creator and some people reach adulthood not knowing that deep love and peace. Praying so hard for those families and central Texans.
I agree. I found this article to be very interesting.https://open.substack.com/pub/tierneyrealnewsnetwork/p/rainmaker?r=agh89&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
We should neither leap to conclusions, not exclude anything at this point without further investigation.
Jess, your writing is always so deep and the way you are able to put delicate details into words that evoke such emotion and relatability is admirable. 5 generations of women in my family attended Camp Waldemar, (including myself and my daughter) another girls camp near Camp Mystic. I have been an absolute wreck since hearing the news and this brought out an ugly cry for me; for the parents and families of the tight knit camp community who are still desperately clinging to hope and searching for their babies, for the families of those who were spending the fourth vacationing and celebrating, only to wake up to a nightmare that seems like it could only happen in the movies, and those who are mourning the loss of life. It’s so incredibly unfortunate that politics, which have absolutely nothing to do with this tragedy, have once again divided people as you describe. It makes me furious. Blame has no place in the face of a natural disaster. The lack of empathy from doubters and keyboard warriors is disgusting. Thank you for doing everything you possibly could to spread information for the missing and offer ways to help. Using your platform for good, instead of looking for a place to lay blame or cause further division. Your words are always profound and I appreciate you, and I know many others feel the same.
Jess thus well written. As a Mother my heart is aching for those moms today. Thank you for giving coverage as well to this story.