Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
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...
Esther Attends Her 50th College Reunion
Some say college was the best time of their life; Esther says college helped set the stage for the best possible life. Esther, 71, of Columbus, Ohio, would know. She is a tough, yet kind woman who believes she has lived a very full life and continues to do whatever it...
Paul Visits Rocky Mountain National Park
When Paul first visited Rocky Mountain National Park in 1938, he fell in love. So much so that he has returned every year for over seven decades. As his 102nd birthday approached, Paul’s Wish of a Lifetime was to return to Rocky Mountain National Park for the 77th...
Howard Attends Beach Blanket Babylon
Howard is a youthful 96-year-old that resides at the Brookdale San Jose in California. He has always been passionate about music and dreamed of one day seeing a musical. Howard’s Wish of a Lifetime was to see the Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco, and we were...
Cleota Flies Up, Up, And Away
Cleota Lenert went up, up, and away when her lifelong dream of a hot air balloon ride was realized. Cleota is a lovely 91-year-old resident of Horizon Bay, a Brookdale community located in Graham, Texas. Cleota's Wish to soar above Texas in a beautiful, peaceful hot...
