Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
Penny Goes to the Grand Ole Opry
Penny, 74, of Brookdale Cleveland Park, has a passionate soul for music with a very optimistic outlook on life. She grew up loving all types, as she sang and played different instruments such as the classical guitar and the harpsichord. Penny is the biggest music buff...
Phyllis Goes to the Salon Again
Phyllis Fleming, 81, is a selfless woman who has always put her family before herself. Raising her children on her own, she became focused on the quality of their upbringing over anything else. As she has grown older, Phyllis has endured many health complications that...
Come on Down, Leslie!
Leslie, 71, has always kept a positive outlook on life. As an avid resident of Brookdale, he enjoys many activities in the community, though his favorite pastime is watching the Price is Right. Leslie remembers watching the very first episode of the Price is Right...
Mary Takes a Swim with the Dolphins
Ever since Mary saw the dolphin Flipper on TV as a child, she has been intrigued by dolphins. Mary said dolphins' "perpetual smiles and complex aquatic maneuvers" remind her of her time in high school when she participated in synchronized swimming. Mary spent part of...
Donald Takes a Glider Flight
Donald, 95, has an everlasting passion for aviation. Though he has taken flight in an abundance of different aircrafts, he has never flown on a glider plane. When asked of his Wish, Donald knew immediately that he would love to feel the air from a different...
Bob and Phyllis Tour The Windy City by Helicopter
Bob, 93, and Phyllis, 89, share a deep love for their home city of Chicago. The two grew up in the Windy City in the 1920’s and 1930’s and never wanted to leave. Bob and Phyllis have become great friends as residents of Brookdale and want nothing more than a chance to...
Lois Takes a Helicopter Ride Over Her Favorite City
Lois has an adventurous soul with big dreams, but at the age of 93, she is limited to the amount of activity her body is able to endure. Growing up with a troubling childhood, she has reinvented herself for her family and remains a strong, courageous woman. During...
Jo Visits Trinity Atomic Site in Honor of Her Husband
At the age of 90, Jo is still haunted from her past after her husband returned from serving the United States Army on the “Manhattan Project” at the Trinity Atomic Bomb Site in New Mexico. As her husband departed from his mission, he was unaware of the assigned duty...
We Can Do It! Lina Mae Revisits Her ‘Rosie’ Past
Rosie the Riveter serves as a traditional icon of the United States, representing working women during WWII. Lina Mae, 92, has achieved many accomplishments after becoming a Rosie at 18 years old. Her hard-working efforts were acknowledged, which allowed her the...
Fabio and Milva Return to NYC 50 Years Later
Fabio and Milva Alvarado embody the American Dream. Fabio, 83, moved to New York from Bogota, Columbia in 1953. Milva, 82, left her farm in Cuba in 1952 to escape the rising political conflict and start a new life in New York. The Big Apple holds a special place in...
Charles Takes Flight Again After 15 Years
As a Naval Aviator, Charles Tuholski, 82, developed a passion for airplanes. During his service in the Navy, he enjoyed flying a variety of planes. After his discharge, Charles dreamed of owning a Cessna 172 and giving pilot lessons to students. Unfortunately, that...
Betty Dances her way to the Ellen Show
Betty Wilson, 83, loves to dance. At Brookdale Champions, her infectious dance moves inspire other older adult residents and community associates to dance with her. Betty is often seen dancing right alongside her favorite talk show host and fellow dance fanatic, Ellen...
Ellen, 86, Meets her Idol, Willie Nelson
Ellen, 86, is a remarkable woman with a lifelong commitment to helping others. She was an advocate for desegregation of schools in Montgomery in the 1960’s, eventually being appointed by a judge to serve on a biracial committee that monitored schools for integration....
Veteran Spring Trip to Washington D.C. 2016
On May 12, 2016, Wish of a Lifetime sent 8 veterans and a gold-star wife to Washington, D.C. to see the nation's war memorials for the first time. Veterans from the Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II were all represented. The trip was absolutely incredible and,...
50 Years Later, Lyndall Experiences the Opera Again
Lyndall, 79, often dreams of the days she lived Germany. She has fond memories of working for the Red Cross and attending operas in her spare time. "It was only $2," she recalled. To her, operas are exciting because they incorporate many of the elements of spoken...
