AUSTIN (KXAN) — The mother of the sole camper still missing from Camp Mystic delivered a heartfelt tribute to her daughter and advocated for legislative action at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday.
CiCi Williams Steward, together with her husband Will, voiced her unwavering support for Senate Bill 1, which pertains to campground and youth camp safety, to the Texas Senate committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
Cecilia “Cile” Steward was 8 years old, and she was excited to go to Camp Mystic for the first time, her mother said.
Camp Mystic is situated in Kerrville, where a devastating flood claimed at least 117 lives, including 37 children, in Kerr County. Nine of those victims were swept into Kendall County. As of Wednesday, two individuals were still missing.
Overall, at least 135 people died in the flooding across Central Texas.
“Texas summer camps must be properly equipped, trained, and held accountable, so that future generations of children can experience the joy of camp without being placed in preventable danger,” Steward stated.
“Three generations of women in my family attended Camp Mystic. This year, it was finally Cile’s turn,” Steward said. “For Cile, camp symbolized adventure, memories, friendships, and lifelong lessons. For me, it meant witnessing my child grow and learn, always under the assurance of her safety. Joy and growth cannot exist without safety.”
Steward went on to say that the assurance she received that Cile, along with the other young girls at the camp, was betrayed that day of the floods.
“Cile’s chance to experience camp only existed because I was assured that her safety, and the safety of all the young girls, was paramount. I ask you, what could have been more important than that,” Steward said. “Obvious, common sense safety measures were lacking. Protocols that should have been established were disregarded. Consequently, my daughter was taken from us. Cile’s life ended, not due to an unavoidable natural event, but because of preventable shortcomings, on just her fifth day of camp.”
Steward said the passing of SB 1 could “be the start of a promise” that the lives and deaths of the campers will bring change.
“This legislation cannot bring back our daughters, but it is the beginning of change that must occur so that this tragedy never happens again,” Steward said. “In addition to the families that are here today and that lost their children, there are hundreds of other campers that were affected by this that survived. The survival guilt and trauma that they went through for many is unknowable. They will be dealing with this for the rest of their lives. It is unfathomable.”
Steward said her family continues to live “in a torture chamber of uncertainty” until Cile’s body is found.
“My baby girl is still missing,” she said. “The agony is relenting. We cannot begin to grieve or to honor the fullness of her short, beautiful life until she is recovered and laid safely to rest.”
