Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
Frank and Bruce go Skydiving
Frank, 90, from Brookdale Grants Pass Springs in Grants Pass, Oregon, has always dreamed of flying. When he was 10 years old, Frank made a pair of wings and jumped off the top of a barn. He fell about 30 feet and sprained both of his ankles but said he “didn’t feel...
JoAnne Meets Luke Bryan
JoAnne, 67, of Brookdale Towson in Baltimore, MD, is a lively, youthful older adult who loves country music. JoAnne has been a fan of country music singer Luke Bryan for eight years but had never seen him perform live. She feels a deep connection to his music and said...
Renata’s Ride
Renata’s love for motorcycles started when her husband asked her on their first date— he asked her to accompany him on a ride around the neighborhood. This was something Renata had never done before, and she was fairly surprised her parents gave her permission to go...
Lee Goes Fishing Off the Shore of Mt. Pleasant SC
Being surrounded by the majestic ocean is Lee's (90) favorite place in the world. Lee became accustomed to being on the water when he joined the Navy during the WWII era. During his 17 year tenure in the Navy, Lee survived three separate naval vessels that sunk, and...
Hazel Opens Gift of George Strait Memorabilia
Hazel, 88, from Brookdale Midland in Midland, Texas, spent the majority of her life in Big Springs, Texas. Back in Big Springs, Hazel enjoyed hearing about the local rodeos. In the 1970s, Hazel discovered that a man named George Strait was a strong competitor in...
Lynda Goes to Phantom of the Opera in NYC
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...
Ruth Visits Her Twin Great-granddaughters
Ruth became a great-grandmother in February when her granddaughter, Lacey, gave birth to two beautiful twin girls. Lacey has always been a constant blessing in her life, and Ruth explains how grateful she is that she’s been able to watch her grow into such an amazing...
Audrey Boards the USS Intrepid
With such a lively spirit, one would never guess that Audrey is 92 years old. Though she now resides in Brookdale Destin in Florida, Audrey spent the majority of her life in New York. She worked as a typist in New York City for many years in a large company downtown,...
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...
