Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
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...
Randy Takes Flight
Randy, 82, has long dreamt of flying in a hot air balloon. When her younger brother passed away from a work injury, she and her older brother, George, found solace by watching the hot air balloons float through the California sky. Since that time, nearly 20 years ago,...
Dorothy Indulges Her Need For Speed
Dorothy has always had a need for speed. Since the age of 15, she would spend her free time watching NASCAR races, dreaming of one day having the opportunity to drive an Indy car. Now, at the age of 82, Dorothy is finally seeing her dream come to fruition, as her wish...
Rudy Honors His Son
Rudy M., 92, is a Navy Veteran who has always been passionate about helping others. He worked hard throughout his life to provide for his family, and was a loving father to his two children. Rudy also volunteered as a firefighter for thirty years in New York City. His...
Monica Scuba Dives Again
To so many of us, the ability to indulge our passions is something we take for granted. But for Monica, 65, returning to the ocean to scuba dive seemed nearly impossible. At the young age of 50, Monica suffered a stroke that left the entire left side of her body...
Louise Throws The First Pitch
It was a “pitcher” perfect day. As the crowd looked on, Louise stepped up to the mound and readied herself. It was the culmination of a life long love of baseball and the extra arm exercises during morning work outs. After 100 years of anticipation, Louise finally got...
Nancy Commemorates Her Late Husband
“Soul mates are the people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect, but are always perfect for you.” That was how it was for Nancy Patterson, 68, and her late husband James. The two were soul mates and spent their lives supporting one another. When James...
