Wish Stories

Wilhelmina E., 81, from Brookdale Columbia in South Carolina, grew up the youngest of 5 kids. Wilhelmina’s father was a traveling salesperson, so her brother, Brinson, not only served as a good friend but also father figure. Wilhelmina recalls Brinson as a “prankster”...

Pauline, 92, has been giving back to her community since the young age of 19 after marrying and enlisted soldier. Her husband was stationed in Europe during World War II, leaving newly wed Pauline alone in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. “This was the hardest...

Patsy Henderson, 80, from Brookdale Carmel, and her husband of 46 years raised their three daughters in Frankfort, Indiana. When the girls were growing up, the family frequently visited Daytona Beach. Patsy and her daughters have fond memories of being together as a...

Pat M., 86, from Brookdale’s Palma Sola in Bradenton, FL, is described by those who care for her as “an amazing woman who always has everyone’s interest at hand.” Pat grew up as an only child with strong connections with her parents. She is very proud of her Chippewa...

Jim A., 76, from Brookdale East Broad of Statesville, North Carolina, was able to travel around the Southeast corner of the United States through his work. He has fond memories of visiting various cities, strolling through the towns and seeing all of the sights. Jim...

On any given Saturday night for the past 10 years, you will find one very special older adult, Lynn V., volunteering in her community in Cleveland, OH. Lynn, 79, is a woman whose optimistic outlook and generous spirit, is only matched by her love of movies, musicals...

Therman S. from Brookdale Sparks, has always wished he could climb aboard the hot air balloons he sees floating around Nevada. When he was a young boy, a hot air balloon landed on his driveway. Ever since that day, Therman has been fascinated with hot air balloons and...

Mr. Earl P. is an 89 year old man whose commitment to his family and airplanes is absolutely unrivaled. Earl' fascination with airplanes began when he was 14 years old and began working at AVO, an airplane equipment plant in Detroit, Michigan. Since that moment, Earl...

Barbara L., 78, from Brookdale Westlake Hills in Austin, TX, was a teenager of the ‘50s. When Elvis came to fame in 1955, Barbara was in high school. She remembers having slumber parties with her friends and playing Elvis on the record player. In October 1956, Barbara...

Hazel T. (76) is a devout Christian. She loves the Bible and knows every story by heart. It has been a lifelong dream of hers to go to Israel and experience the stories for herself. As she has gotten older, she has lost hope of being able to because it is no longer...

Eloise E. (90) has seen many of her loved ones pass away. Her strong faith in her religion has gotten her though these difficult losses. Eloise has always wanted to go to Israel, but has never had the finances to do so. Eloise has wanted to go visit the Holy Land...

Mr. Herman R., of Morrisville, North Carolina, is a 90 year old man who has lived in a small town in North Carolina for his entire life. Herman has led a very busy and full life, raising five children alongside his wife and opening his own carpeting business. Herman...

Patty, 68, of Stockton, CA, is a longtime fan of the San Francisco Giants and a lifelong fan of baseball. Growing up, Patty was the only girl in the neighborhood. To make friends with the boys, she had to learn how to play sports, such as baseball, hockey, and...

Fred was born in Germany in December 1932 to Jewish parents. Six months later, Fred’s parents decided to flee to Belgium to escape the Nazis. Fred’s parents believed Hitler would only be in power for a couple of years, so they could return to Germany after Hitler’s...

Leta H., 78, from Brookdale Westlake Hills in Austin, Texas, has been a fan of Rachael Ray for several years. Leta owned her own cookware store, Bon Appetit, for about 10 years. Bon Appetit offered cooking classes, sold cookware and organized trips that involved food....