Lynda, 76, is a older adult who has always put the needs of others before her own. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and has lived in Texas her whole life. She has always served others and has gone on several mission trips with her husband throughout her life. This past fall, she was in Ethiopia for six weeks working with orphans, where she plans to travel again during July of 2016 for another Mission trip. She currently volunteers at the Resident Counsel and leads women in bible study, prayer and gospel singing. Lynda stays involved and helps people from all over the world through her selfless work.
2014 was a painful year for Lynda, and every year since has been full of readjustment and recollection. In February of 2014, Lynda suddenly lost her husband. Three months after he passed, she lost her daughter, Nissa, to cancer at the young age of 43. For a number of years, Lynda has wanted to go see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in New York with her daughter, Nissa; however, they weren’t able to fulfill their dream before Nissa passed. Lynda and Nissa shared a similar interest as mother and daughter—music.
Lynda has always loved to sing and shared this passion with her daughter, who sang in church choir when she was young. Nissa sang from the bottom of her lungs from the minute she was born, always singing herself to sleep. At the age of 14, Nissa was watching a television commercial, which prompted her strong desire to go to Broadway and Rockefeller Center. Nissa sang her entire life until they inserted the trach tube that minimized her ability to speak. Though they never had the opportunity to fulfill their wish together, Lynda still wants to make the trip to New York City in order to bring herself a sense of peace and closure. “If anything, my only wish is to grant hers,” said Lynda.
On June 2nd, 2016, Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale Senior Living sent Lynda and her granddaughter, Charity, to Phantom of the Opera on Broadway as a way to commemorate Nissa’s memory. They went backstage to meet members of the cast and explored different areas of New York City. Lynda’s highlight from her Wish was, “Going to see the Phantom of the Opera, as well as seeing the people, traffic and things that I’ve always wanted to see.” Lynda also stated, “It was unbelievable. It made me feel a lot of love, and I got to fulfill a Wish that was very, very special to me.”
Photography Credits: Stephanie Willoughby, Little LoveStories Photography
