The Story Behind The Llama

Wyatt attended Kanakuk Kamp for three summers, and he loved it. It was his happy place! In the summer of 2021, when we picked Wyatt up from Kamp, he had a stuffed llama attached to his backpack. He told us about the “llama gang”—a group he and his friends formed after buying the llamas at the Kamp store. They proudly attached these stuffed animals to their backpacks and set out to spread joy.

But there’s more to the story. The best part came on the first day of Wyatt’s junior year. He strapped the stuffed llama to his school backpack. I remember asking, “Are you really going to carry that llama around at school?” Without hesitation, he replied, “Yes, it’s a great conversation starter.” From that day forward, Wyatt and the llama became inseparable. If you saw Wyatt with his backpack, you saw the llama.

The llama became more than just a stuffed animal. It created a space for easy conversation and a way for Wyatt to make new friends. This seemingly small act became a big part of Wyatt—a young man striving to live outside himself, focused on bringing others together.

We didn’t realize how special that llama was until Wyatt passed. What felt like a simple, silly act—letting the llama peek over the top of his backpack—had truly touched others. After his passing, it wasn’t just our family who remembered the llama; it was his peers who shared how it symbolized Wyatt’s welcoming spirit.

For the rest of our lives, when we see a llama, we won’t just think of our beautiful Wyatt; we’ll remember the atmosphere he created—a space where others felt loved and accepted.

Llama Love Forever!