Jackie, a 69-year-old mother of three daughters and grandmother to 6 was brought to us by her daughter, Sara, who nominated her for a wish. Retired, Jackie moved to AZ two years earlier to be closer to family and take care of Sara’s newborn twin boys, so that she could return to work. “My mom raised all of us as a single mother. Being a mom now, I know how difficult this must have been. I just want to give her something back.”

 

Now Jackie was diagnosed with lung cancer. With a will and determination to see her grandbabies grow, she aggressively started chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Sadly, the cancer metastasized and she was no longer able to care for her grandsons. Jackie explained, “I love my grandsons so much and I hold dear the time I stayed home with them.”

 

When we met with Jackie, she shared many happy memories of times shared with her daughters vacationing in Ft Meyers, FL. She recalled great memories shared at the beach. Her wish, “to sail the ocean and swim with the dolphins.”

 

BLF partnered with Carnival Cruises who rolled out the red carpet for Jackie and her daughters, Sara and Maggie. Her suite was decorated with balloons, champagne, fruit, sweets and souvenirs, a complimentary spa treatment, a tour of the top deck, meeting the Captain and even steering the ship! Our group was treated like V.I.P. throughout the cruise including assistance in arranging our day excursion in the Bahamas at Atlantis swimming with the dolphins.

 

Jackie passed away later that year.