Fulfilled Twilight Wishes

St. Joseph Living Center, Windham, CT

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

The senior residents of St. Joseph Living Center enjoyed a visit from The Farm to Heart Petting Zoo, thanks to our Connecticut chapter. Many of the residents of this facility are retired or sick nuns who have taken a vow of poverty. Throughout their lives, they dedicated themselves to educating children and working in hospitals, food pantries and homeless shelters. As part of National Skilled Nursing Care Week, the petting zoo brought baby animals to the facility for the residents to hold and pet outside on the facility grounds. In addition, there was an ice cream sundae bar set up so that the residents could enjoy ice cream sundaes after they interacted with the animals.

Cathy P., 73, Turtle Creek, PA

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Cathy Patterson, 73, a resident of Turtle Creek, PA had her wish for a stair lift granted, thanks to our Allegheny County chapter. Patterson lives in a two-story house and is having both knees replaced. Having the stair lift will greatly improve her quality of life.

Lillian M., 95, Phoenixville, PA

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Lillian Matthews, a resident of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, had her wish to see the Reading Fightin’ Phils play granted, thanks to national nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation and Patina Health. Matthews, 95, is an active member of the Phoenixville Senior Center and a regular attendee of their Monday Morning Sports Desk program. A huge baseball fan, she follows the Phillies faithfully and can tell you who is in the lineup, who is injured and who is being traded.

Last year, the Phoenixville Senior Center organized a trip to a Reading Fightin’ Phils game and all the seniors who went had a great time. This year, with inflation and increased gas prices, the cost to rent a bus was prohibitive for the senior center. The senior center reached out to Twilight Wish to see if they could assist with making Matthews’ wish to take a group from there to a game again this year come true. Twilight Wish partnered with Patina to make this wish a reality! All the seniors, but especially Matthews, had a wonderful time. Matthews even met former Phillies player Dickie Noles.

Donna B., 73, Greensburg, PA

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Donna Burns, 73, a resident of Greensburg, PA, had her wish for a lift chair granted, thanks to our Westmoreland County chapter. She has arthritis and is in pain much of the time. It is difficult for her to get up and out of her chair on her own. Having her wish granted will greatly improve her quality of life.

Luann J., 69, Greensburg, PA

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Luann Johnson, 69, a resident of Greensburg, PA, had his wish for a lift chair granted, thanks to our Westmoreland County chapter. Johnson had an old recliner, but it was worn out and becoming unsafe to use. She was very grateful to have this wish granted!

Miriam W., 102. Alexandria, VA

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Miriam Wiener, a resident of Alexandria, Virginia had her simple wish for a new mattress and a house dress granted, thanks to our DC/MD/VA chapter. Wiener, 102, still lives on her own although she does have assistance with daily living. The costs of maintaining her home and providing for her daily care don’t allow for many extras. Wiener has given to others in so many ways throughout her life. She and her late husband, Harvey, started a support group for families of the mentally ill and facilitated the group for over 12 ears. They also both volunteered on the helpline of the National Association of the Mentally Ill for several years. In addition, Wiener volunteered at the John Carlyle House, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and the National Archives. Years ago, Wiener took an archival course with Roger Dahl, the archivist for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i Faith of the United States. She then served as the archivist for the Alexandria Baha’i community for over 40 years. Wiener has been a prolific writer since a young girl and published her first book “Three Men Find Happiness: Essays” several years ago. Her simple wish for a new mattress and house dress was granted on April 22, 2023.

Earl S., 66, Greensburg, PA

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Earl Shandorf, 66, a resident of Greensburg, PA, had his wish for transportation to his daughter’s college graduation granted, thanks to our Westmoreland County chapter. Shandorf was in a motorcycle accident in early April and is in rehab in Pittsburgh. He needed to be transported in a wheelchair accessible vehicle to and from graduation, but the cost was too much for the family to afford. In 2014, Shandorf suffered a brain aneurysm and was in a coma and then brain injury rehab which caused him to miss his daughter’s high school graduation. His daughter postponed going to college in order to help care for him which is why attending her college graduation was so important to him. This special wish was granted on April 29, 2023.

Roger S., 83, Greensburg, PA

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Roger Stern, 83, a resident of Greensburg, PA, had his wish for a lift chair granted by our Westmoreland County chapter recently. Stern lives on his own and suffers from several medical issues which make it difficult for him to stand from a seated position. His old recliner has been repaired multiple times and is in poor condition. Because he lives on a fixed income, he could not afford a lift chair on his own. Stern is a retired art teacher who was very active in community theater, both onstage and behind the scenes in production with both Apple Hill and Ligonier Players. He was also involved in Christ Church, directing children in pageants and participating in the Salad Bars held there.

Marcella P., 84, Greensburg, PA

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Marcella Potocnak had her wish for a new couch granted, thanks to our Westmoreland County chapter. Potocnak, 84, had an old couch that she had bought at a second hand store 20 years ago and the springs were starting to poke through it. Due to several medical issues including spinal stenosis and neuropathy, she spends her days mostly in her apartment and on her couch. Potocnak has never had new furniture and wished for a new, comfortable couch. She was thrilled to have this simple wish granted!

Greater Harleysville & North Penn Senior Center

May 18, 2023/in Fulfilled Wishes

Twilight Wish collaborated with the Greater Harleysville & North Penn Senior Center to host a dinner dance for seniors at the center in Harleysville on April 29, 2023. The seniors enjoyed a delicious full course meal and dancing with a DJ. Humana Health sponsored a photo booth which the seniors also enjoyed.

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