Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
Dorothy Travels to Anaheim to Visit Sister
Dorothy, 96, grew up in the small town of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and is the oldest of four siblings. Dorothy lost her mother when she was 14, resulting in many changes for the family. Her youngest sister, Shirley - 14 months at the time - went to live elsewhere and...
John Reengages With WWII Planes
John, 96, of Brookdale Cape Cod is a gracious and kind gentleman who shows early signs of memory loss and dementia. One thing is for sure though - John can recall all of his experiences in WWII. He enjoys spending part of his day reminiscing about his time as a WWII...
Sue Visits Powell City of Books
“I have a severe addiction to books and this was a great way to celebrate that!” Sue's love for books and the enjoyment of spending time in libraries and bookstores have always served as a confirmation of her career choice. For 44 years, Sue was a journalist. Both her...
Robert Keeps 5-Decade Promise – To See The Eclipse
Robert, 80, of Bradenton, FL, is a philanthropic man with a passion for learning. In the 1960s, Robert had the chance to see a solar eclipse with his brother-in-law’s astronomy class but was unable to go. When hearing his brother-in-law talk about how blown away he...
Brothers Jim and Bill Embrace Once More!
James (“Jim”) and Bill Thomas, 91 and 93, are brothers and World War 2 veterans. Jim served in the Pacific Ocean with the Navy and Bill served in Germany, Europe, and France as an artillery observer. Both of these gentlemen were involved in very dangerous and...
Larrie Visits West Coast Game Park
Larrie, 78, of Brookdale Roseburg has had a passion for animals ever since he was young. He still clearly remembers petting a lion cub when he was attending the University of Minnesota as if it had just happened last week. There were workers who came from a game...
Rose Reunites With Her Son
Rose, 85, from Brookdale Phillippi Creek in Sarasota, Florida, has not seen her beloved son in 10 years. Due to unfortunate health situations and tight finances for them both, neither one has been able to travel to see the other. Her son is her only child and it has...
Janet and Ann – A Weekend Wish Come True
Janet, 86, and Ann, 81, worked along side one another as nurses at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and individually reminisce on their favorite memories of each other. After retirement, they both moved into different Brookdale communities and have not...
Debbi Visits the Ocean with her Daughter
Debbi, age 66, of Burnsville, MN has proved over and over again her resilience. When Debbi was in college, she did a mission trip in Ecuador “with an earnest desire to help the quality of their lives.” As a missionary, she helped with the city’s radio and TV ministry...
Ed Visits Naval Base and Battleship Cove
Edmund “Ed,” 96, was enlisted in the United States Navy when he was about 20 years old. Ed spent over 20 years serving his country and was able to attain the rank of Chief Boatswain Mate by the time he was discharged around 1961. He spent 6 months of every year on a...
Robert Visits the Ark Encounter
Robert, 79, of Brookdale Paducah in Kentucky, is a deeply religious man who has dreamed of visiting the Ark Encounter ever since it was built in July 2016. Noah is Robert’s favorite Biblical person, noting, “When I meet Noah in heaven, I would like to ask him...
Annie Laura Sees Nova Scotia
Annie, “Laura,” 82, has been a fan for decades of the story, Anne of Green Gables, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery (published under L. M. Montgomery). From the moment she first read the book, she fell in love with Anne, a spunky orphan who was mistakenly sent to...
Alvin Rides a Boat in Norfolk, VA
Alvin D., 93, from Brookdale Bath in Akron, Ohio, is a proud US veteran. Alvin served in the Navy during WWII and escorted vessels to the British Isles. Although Alvin and his crew were often an easy target for submarine attacks, they were never hit. Alvin said “I...
Irene Has a Date With Firefighters
Irene G., 95, of Alpharetta, GA, is a loving older adult with a fondness for visitors, especially those who fight fires. A few months ago, a tornado threatened the area in which Irene lives, and it was imperative she find refuge in her neighbor’s living room. Since...
Doug Flies Once Again
Growing up, Doug R., 80, lived near the airport in Miami, Florida where he enjoyed watching the planes land and take off. Since then, the idea of flying planes “stuck in his head.” One day years later when Doug was driving home from work, he decided to make a U-turn...
