Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
Eleanor Celebrates 100th Birthday
Eleanor Dew did it. She reached THE milestone. She achieved that extraordinary feat. She discovered the secret. Eleanor Dew turned 100 years old and proved that a full life fuels the soul far beyond the expected. On a sunny,...
This Isn’t David’s First Rodeo; Jeremy Garver’s Journey in Wrangling These Rodeo Guys
I have worked for Wish of a Lifetime for 6 years. We’re a non-profit organization based out of Denver, CO that grants life-enriching wishes to older adults across the country and shares their incredible stories to further inspire...
Frank Meets Mickey Mouse
Frank, 89, was born the same year as Mickey Mouse! Frank remembers the first time he saw Mickey Mouse in his first appearance in Steamboat Willy. From there, Frank made a lifelong friend. After living a difficult childhood with an alcoholic...
Leora goes to Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch
When Leora, 85, was 12 years old, she had her tonsils and adenoids removed. She was kept out of school for a short period of time and then went back to school for two days only to be sent home again because she had caught pneumonia. Leora was...
Tim Sees The Ocean
The Danish author Isak Dinesan wrote, “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea”. Tim Brown, 66, from Dayton OH, has experienced a tremendous amount of sweat and countless tears; yet, there is one thing that Tim had never seen, but always wanted...
Muriel’s Night of Magic
“At the ‘ripe old’ age of 23, Irving’s mother said that he needed to find a nice girl and settle down, and he took her seriously”. You could say that Irving’s mother was the driving force that ultimately brought Muriel and Irving...
Woody and Genie Visit Their Beloved Fernandina Beach
The slow,gentle sound of ocean waves has been the backdrop of Woody and Eugina’s life for 62 years of marriage.Their favorite dates were spent camping at Fernandina Beach and treating themselves to a seafood dinner at the Marina...
Judy Touches the Keys to Happiness in First Piano Performance
Judy, 70, from Brookdale Murray in Kentucky has always loved the power of music. Judy performed in school choruses and listened to the classics while the musical landscape changed around her.. But her biggest musical dream was to...
Helen Hits the Road on a Harley Motorcycle
Florida resident Helen has not tamed her wild streak. The 95-year-old mother of four may seem reserved, but behind her sweet eyes she has a passion for adventure. This petite thrill seeker spent most of her life raising her four children and volunteering in their...
Thomas and Ella Chat Until Midnight After 30 Years Apart
A knock on the Simpson family door yielded a life changing surprise. A 10-year-old boy, confused and orphaned, stood on the doorstep as his father’s car drove away in the distance. Thomas had lost his mother and his father...
Nevada Cowgirl Helen Rides a Majestic Mare after 20 Years
Rolling green pastures, quiet winds and the neigh of horses backdropped by the Sierra Nevada mountain range were the scenes of Helen’s childhood. She looked out over the land while atop a gentle, beloved horse. There has always been a special...
Beverly Meets Her Seventh Great-Grandchild
Beverly has done it all; from volunteering in hospitals and working with the MS association, to helping with her children’s cheerleading squad and finding time to tend to her garden. This 85-year-old older adult describes herself...
Phyllis Meets Paula Deen
According to those that know her best, Phyllis, 71, is a “giving person with a big heart.” In the past, Phyllis had extensive experience volunteering as a teacher’s aide and at a local hospital. “She has always taken care of everyone,” said her...
Irene Finds Her Voice
A tribute to the Mather School's impact on African American students Watch the VideoWhat if what you loved most was taken away from you… Would you give up? Or fight to take it back? Irene is a 72-year-old poet who can no longer write down her beautiful stanzas. Due to...
Eleanor Skis Keystone Slopes with Olympic Athlete Jeremy Bloom
At 88, Eleanor's only hope was to "once again glide a steep slope covered with fresh fallen snow; to feel the cold fresh air fill my lungs and caress my cheeks.” Eleanor, or Ellie, spent more than four decades feeling the chill of...
