Clara, age 71, is a older adult whose joy and loving spirit shine through to everyone she meets. She grew up without ever knowing her father and became a very devoted, hard-working, single mother to 6 children. Tragically, she lost one of her sons 5 years ago when he died very unexpectedly at the age of 42 of a heart attack. Clara is now confined to a wheelchair, yet continues to remain upbeat despite facing many physical and financial challenges throughout her lifetime. While it is readily apparent that Clara has not lived the easiest life, it is her great love for her family and the kindness that she shows to all around her, that gets her through each day.
In the community where she resides, she is much loved and fondly referred to as “Mom” by all as she brightens the lives of so many others. With her family meaning the world to her, Clara’s wish of a lifetime is to see the only one of her children that does not live in the Detroit area with her, once again. Clara last saw her daughter, Alecia, 5 years ago for a very brief visit and then not before that for 10 years.
Wish of a Lifetime is thrilled to reunite Clara with Alecia and to also provide the opportunity for this devoted woman to meet her 6 great-grandchildren whom she has never met before, only having seen them in pictures. Clara shared just what this wish is going to mean to her when she said, “I want to see my great grand-babies before I die. In reality, this may be the last time I see them. We are not promised any time. We live day by day. I am not getting any younger.”
On April 7th, 2017, Wish of a Lifetime sent Clara, accompanied by her daughter, Angel, from Detroit to Memphis for this long awaited family reconnection. Clara described the experience of meeting her six great-grandchildren, “I cried when I saw them for the first time. I never would have been able to go down there without Wish of a Lifetime and they could not have come to see me. I could not ask for a better trip. They cried and I cried when we had to say goodbye. I might not be able to see them again. Life is not promised to you. There is nothing like having your family all together again! I can’t describe how my heart feels. This was the best trip I could have ever had!”
Photos courtesy of John Moore
