Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
Stanley Sees the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Stanley “Stan," 86, has been a musician since he was a child. At 5 years old, Stanley was learning how to play the piano for the first time. By the time he was 7 he was learning intricate pieces of music, and later he went on to become a, “baby prodigy." After only 7...
Nick Teaches A Ballroom Dance Class
Nick is known in his Brookdale community as the "dancing man." He relishes every opportunity to dance, and encourages others to do the same. He tried to teach the employees at his community how to ballroom dance, but they struggled to keep up with his advanced...
Virginia Visits California For The First Time
California dreams beckon many of us and seventy-two year old Virginia, a resident of Pittsburgh, PA is no exception. Virginia is a kindhearted, enthusiastic older adult who has felt the allure of California for years. She has dreamed of visiting and experiencing, for...
Phil Goes To OKC Thunder Basketball Game
Phil, 94, of Brookdale Oklahoma City West, is the epitome of a basketball fan. He makes sure to watch games whenever they are on television, and has been known to play under any conditions, even barefoot. He considers himself to be an OKC Thunder fanatic, but he has...
Lee Flies A Plane Again
94-year-old Lee Lanzen lives in the Westlake Village Brookdale community. He is a veteran who served in the Navy Air Corps for ten years, including several years during World War II. Lee flew a Corsair Fighter Aircraft for a short time, but due to his exemplary flying...
Sam Bakes A Pound Cake With A Purpose
90-year-old Sam utilizes his considerable baking skills for more than creating delicious treats. Ever since he mastered his lemon pound cake recipe, Sam has used his scrumptious baked goods to bring joy to others. Sam's Wish was to bake his delicious lemon pound cake...
Joy Visits Hershey’s Chocolate World
Joy Smith, 79, is extraordinarily resilient. She and her siblings grew up in a children’s home after they were separated from their parents and while her childhood was difficult, she considers her upbringing to have been a “blessing.” Joy views the children’s home as...
Art Celebrates His Service In A Parade
70- year-old Art is a Viet Nam Veteran, who completed two and a half tours with the US Army. His Wish of a Lifetime was to participate in a parade where he could proudly represent America by waving an American Flag. Art was raised by his foster mother,...
Lt. Raymond Cosgrove Flies In A C-45 Beechcraft
Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Cosgrove selflessly served our country for twenty-three years as a pilot in the Air Force. He flew a staggering 1,065 missions while stationed in Vietnam and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, given for...
Deborah Visits The Ocean
Deborah is a youthful 67-year-old with a zest for life and a passion for the ocean. She has not seen the ocean in twenty-five years, but her recent health struggles have reignited her desire to be by the sea. In February of 2015, Deborah was diagnosed with cancer....
Marlene Visits Her Sister’s Grave in Tzfat, Israel
Losing someone you love is tragic, but as Marlene Leddick knows, they live on in your thoughts and memories. Marlene, 78, is of Jewish descent, and was born in Paris, France a year before the Nazi invasion. As soon as her father learned that the Nazis were on their...
Olive Sees The Future
Olive Horrell, 97, has an innate desire to learn everything she can about the world around her. Born in the rural town of Valentine, Montana, Olive grew up without electricity or indoor plumbing. She vividly remembers traveling by horse and buggy and how the only...
Barbara Ballroom Dances Again
Barbara H., 82, has been a dance-enthusiast all her life. She loves dance in any and every capacity, whether it’s teaching, performing, or just watching. Barbara worked as a ballroom dance instructor and spent her spare time practicing her own skills up until two...
Irving Flies Over Mount Rushmore
Irving, 90, of Rancho Mirage, CA, is a warm hearted, gentle spirit with a passion for flying helicopters. When Irving was young, he served in the United States Navy from 1943-1946 beginning when he was 18 years old. He was stationed on an air carrier and had the...
Journey Of Heroes 2015
Over four years ago, Wish of a Lifetime partnered with The Vital Life Foundation to create the Journey of Heroes, a trip to honor veterans for their incredible sacrifices. The forth annual Journey of Heroes took place from October 21st – 24th, 2015, and was a complete...
