Wish Stories

Paula, 72, of Brookdale Santa Fe in New Mexico, has had a long and accomplished career as a nurse. In high school she volunteered with infant care, and this was when she first realized that she wanted to be a nurse. She went to nursing school upon completing high...

Sherry, 74, and her mother Elma, 94, had a very special wish in common: they both longed to see each other after 20 long years apart. Sherry lives in a Brookdale community in Orlando, Florida and Elma resides in her home in Jamestown, Pennsylvania, over 1000 miles...

Millie, a 91-year-old great-grandmother, is described by her daughter as having “...an amazing talent for being happy and joyful all of the time.” Music always played a huge part in Millie’s life, as she was in the Glee Club in high school and has been a part of many...

Ken Darcy, 82, of Marysville, Washington, has a fascinating family history that he wanted to share with his grandsons. Born and raised in the Seattle area, Ken's father was an Irish father and his mother was Swedish. His father left Ireland when he was 10 years old to...

Rosalie is a 67-year-old resident of Brookdale Courtyard Puyallup in Washington. Rosalie grew up in Pueblo, Colorado with her six siblings. Although they all still consider Pueblo to be a kind of “home base,” most of the family has spread out all over the country....

Steve, 68, is a dedicated family man and enjoys helping others in any way possible. He was in the military in England for 16 years before becoming a police officer in the United States. He immigrated to the United States from England in 1981 after his ex-wife came to...

Marie, 83, of Brookdale North Austin, grew up as the middle child in a house full of brothers, four to be exact. Her two older brothers have passed away, but she remains very close to her two younger brothers, who live in different parts of the country. More than...

Wish Recipient Barbara is a humble, loving older adult who’s always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. She moved from her home state of Ohio to Colorado in 1983 in pursuit of a new career and to start a new life in the Rockies. Today, the 81 year-old...

Elayne, 95, from Brookdale Chandler Place in Rock Hill, South Carolina is a very strong-willed woman who always puts her family first. As her health started to decline this past November, she wished more than anything to visit with her son, Greg, one last time before...

Ruth became a great-grandmother in February when her granddaughter, Lacey, gave birth to two beautiful twin girls. Lacey has always been a constant blessing in her life, and Ruth explains how grateful she is that she’s been able to watch her grow into such an amazing...

When Ellen was asked how old she was, she quipped, “I am just over the hill or you can say that I am a recycled teenager!” Nearly 100 years old, Ellen exudes positivity and her appreciation for life inspires all those around her. This feisty woman only stopped driving...

Elsie Carver, age 91, is one of the friendliest women you could ever meet. She grew up in a small mining-town in western Colorado called Peonia. “I had a beautiful childhood even though we were poor,” Elsie remarked. She said everyone around her was a “depression...

The gift of giving is all Rose wants. Rose, 83, from Denver, Colorado has always wanted to give back to her family for the ongoing and ceaseless support they have given her throughout her life. Rose is a musician at heart, and enjoyed playing the piano at her...

Losing someone you love is tragic, but as Marlene Leddick knows, they live on in your thoughts and memories. Marlene, 78, is of Jewish descent, and was born in Paris, France a year before the Nazi invasion. As soon as her father learned that the Nazis were on their...