Wish Stories
We’ve granted over 3,300 wishes
Caren Takes a Ride in a Rumble Seat
Caren M., 70, residing at Brookdale New Braunfels in New Braunfels, TX has always had a unique passion for collecting antiques. For years, Caren filled her house with old treasures from antique shops and shows around Texas. Recently, she went to an antique car museum...
Theresa Gets Back in the Saddle
Theresa, 69, of Englewood, CO, has always been very active in every community that she has been part of. In Arizona, she volunteered at the school where her grandchildren went and now she currently volunteers every day at the Malley Senior Center in her neighborhood...
Robert Revists USS Midway After 60 Years
Robert, “Bob,” is a resilient 85-year-old Korean War Veteran who has strong emotional ties to his Navy days. From Fall 1952 to Fall 1954, Bob served as a Hospital Corpsman on the USS Midway, which at the time was the largest aircraft carrier in the world. Sixty years...
Jay and Shawn Attend the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Jay C., 72, residing at The Atrium in San Jose, CA has been a life-long sports fanatic. He worked for years as a physical education teacher and was always active playing tennis, coaching basketball, and baseball. Above all, Jay truly enjoyed one game in particular:...
George and Carl Reunite after 64 Years
Wish of a Lifetime granted its 1000th Wish on January 25th, 2015. Around the same time, in partnership with Brookdale older adult living, it was was able to reconnect two high school football rivals who hadn’t seen one another in 64 years—Carl and George—one of whom...
Ruby Plays the Guitar Again
Ruby, 92, residing in Brush, Colorado, has enjoyed playing the guitar for over 60 years. A fan of both English and Spanish songs, Ruby has even composed some of her own and compiled a songbook with hundreds of tunes in it. Unfortunately, Ruby lost her cherished...
Ernest Participates in Mummer’s Day Parade
Ernest K., 87, residing at Brookdale Evesham in Voorhees, NJ has always been fascinated by one of America’s oldest traditions: parades. He especially has an interest in the Mummer's Day Parade, which has been around for over a century and is an East Coast institution...
There’s No Place Like Home for Antonio
After five long years, 95 year old Antonio H. was finally able to return home to Puerto Rico. At 21 years old, a brave Antonio moved from his hometown of Aguas Buenas, eager to join the military. During these younger years of his life, he would visit home at least...
John Cheers on his Grandson
John M. is an 86-year-old resident of Brendenwood, a Brookdale community in Voorhees, NJ. John’s Wish of a Lifetime was see his grandson, Cole, play in a hockey game with the Nanaimo Clippers. John has many fond memories of days when he would babysit Cole and they...
War Heroes Attend Rival Game Together
Larry, 67, and his best friend William “Bill” , 64, have been friends for over 30 years. The two met during their service to our country through the United States Air Force. At the time, Bill and Larry were serving as air crew on board the same US Airborne Warning and...
Frank & Betty Reunite
Honorable veteran, scholarly professional, committed husband, and family man are all phrases that could all be used to describe 87 year-old James or “Fred.” Fred enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and served active duty during WWII from 1944-1946. He was assigned...
Wayland Attends Duke vs. North Carolina Football Game
Wayland, 87, of Carolina House of Asheboro, in North Carolina grew up helping his father, a painter, with exterior painting projects on the weekends. During this time, Wayland remembers seeing the crowds of fans going to the Duke football games and hearing them...
At the Age of 100 – Ruby Finally Sees the Ocean for the First Time
Ruby is a truly caring lady who resides at the Sterling House of Columbia in Tennessee. Ruby was born and raised on a farm in Giles County, Tennessee. Ever since she was a young girl, she dreamed of having the opportunity to travel to the ocean- dig her feet in the...
Lifetime Teacher Celebrates Husband
Lenora, age 87 of Freedom Village of Holland in Michigan, spent her lifetime helping and teaching others. She and her husband were heavily involved in education and their church. Her husband was the president of New Brunswick Theology Seminary about 40 years ago. Her...
Diane Attends Her Grandson’s Wedding
Diane C., 79, is a wonderful, family-oriented woman who resides in Loveland, Co. Originally from Michigan, Diane moved to Colorado over 20 years ago to be closer to her daughter Cheryl and escape the brutal winters of the upper East Coast. Despite her love for...
