ALEX LOYD
LETTER TO OUR PRODUCER — MICHAEL BERRY
Hi Michael!
My name is Alex Loyd, and Shawn and Michelle Welling — graciously opened their home so my daughters, Emerson (14) and Abby (12) could share their incredible experiences over the last 5 years at Camp Mystic.
My husband, Casey and I just wanted to thank you for the extraordinary work you, the Wellings, Lee Majors and the entire crew are doing on the Kerrville flooding documentary. It’s such a powerful and moving project, and it's clear that the intention went into the storytelling of these young girls—it is honest and emotional, yet also hopeful and forward-looking.
We especially appreciated that the focus stayed on the human experience and community resilience without falling into blame or negativity. That tone being set makes the message even more powerful and lasting.
Being part of it was something very special for our family. Our kids felt not only included but truly valued in the process. They were a little nervous at first, but the team made them feel so comfortable and listened to. On the way home after the interviews, my daughters kept talking about how proud they were to share their perspective and how important it felt to share their time at Camp Mystic.
We’re really looking forward to seeing the finished documentary. Please pass along our thanks to the rest of the team as well — the care and thought behind this project really shines through.
Warmly,
Alex and Casey Loyd
MEREDITH & MAC (7)
LETTER TO OUR PRODUCER — MICHAEL BERRY
Michael,
I hope you, Nandy and the boys are doing well! Patrick and I would love to have y’all up to the suite at a Coogs game again this season, but I am actually reaching out today for a different reason.
I want to thank you for including our son, Mac, in your documentary film River of Angels. I also ended up being part of the filming, as Mac wanted me to sit with him during his interview and I was happy to oblige. Having spent eight summers at Camp Mystic—as both a camper and a counselor—I have a deep love for the magic along the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Patrick and I dropped off Mac at Camp La Junta on July 2nd. This was his first year to go to summer camp. He was in Cabin 6 along with fifteen other boys and three counselors. Camp La Junta is approximately 5 miles downriver from Mystic.
Between roughly 3:30 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. on July 4th, the floodwaters surged over nine feet inside the cabin in a matter of minutes. In the pitch-black darkness, with thunder crashing and lightning slicing through the storm, the counselors acted with extraordinary bravery. One by one, they lifted all 16 boys—ages 6 to 8—into the high rafters, just as a wall of water slammed through, a tidal wave racing through the cabin. Every second was a blur of fear, courage, and survival along the river.
The boys remained in the rafters for two hours until the waters finally receded enough for them to be rescued by Scott Fineske, owner of Camp La Junta, and carried to higher ground via a human chain.
Patrick and I wrestled with whether to allow Mac to share his story, uncertain if it would bring peace or reopen old wounds, and wondering if silence might be safer.
But in the end, Mac was resolute—his heart knew he was meant to tell the story of that night in the flood.
The opportunity for Mac to share his experience in his interview with Shawn was profoundly meaningful. The process was handled with such care and thoughtfulness, and Mac came away feeling seen, heard, and uplifted.
We are especially grateful that it offered a measure of closure after a summer filled with grief and heartache. We personally knew many of the Mystic girls who perished in the flood, and the journey through grief has been layered and heavy, often carried silently out of respect for Heaven’s 27 and Dick Eastland.
We were deeply touched by the kindness of Shawn, Michelle, Andrew, and the entire team—from assistants to cameramen, and even Moose and Mr. Puddles, the Welling’s sweet golden retriever and floppy-eared bunny. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and genuine.
Shawn, in particular, demonstrated true professionalism and heart from start to finish. His dedication to the project was evident in every step of the process.
We feel honored to be part of this beautiful film and are grateful for the platform you are providing these incredible survivors, heroes, helpers, and first responders to share their stories of the July 4th flood, our beloved Hill Country, and the enduring importance of summer camps along the Guadalupe.
Please let us know if there’s any way we can continue to support or contribute. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing the finished film come together.
Thank you again, and hope you’ll come with us to a Coogs game soon!
With heartfelt appreciation,
Meredith Chastang
CHASTANG AUTO GROUP
6200 N. Loop East | Houston TX 77026
