Sharing Wishes Grants Hospice Patient’s Wish for a “Girls’ Day Out”

Girls just want to have fun, and Dorothy Ferrara is no exception.

Dorothy, a patient of Memorial Home Services Hospice, had mentioned to several staff members that she wanted to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum. When Kelsi Dobson, medical social worker, visited with her, Dorothy made a minor addition to her already humble request: she wanted a steak and a margarita.

Dobson worked with the Sharing Wishes fund, a program through the Memorial Medical Center Foundation that grants the wishes of hospice patients in central Illinois, to grant Dorothy’s wish and then some—giving her a day she’d never forget.

Dorothy spent the days leading up to her “girls’ day out” marking off dates on the calendar until that special day arrived. On July 11, Angie Clifton, hospice home health aide, arrived early to curl Dorothy’s hair, do her makeup and help dress her in new clothes, bought especially for this occasion.

Little did Dorothy know she’d be riding in style.

A limousine pulled up to whisk away the guest of honor, along with Clifton and June Asbury, a dietary staff member at Oak Terrace—two friends who have become like “family” to her. Not only would this be Dorothy’s first time in a limo, but it was also the first time she would be leaving Oak Terrace in five years.

The first stop was Chili’s, where Dorothy dined on her long-awaited steak and margarita. After lunch, the trio went to the museum.

After her big day out, Dorothy was tired, but happy.

“It was a terrific day,” she said. “The nicest thing I have ever been able to do.”

Since then, Dorothy’s visits with Dobson have been spent talking about how great that day was, and how grateful she is to Sharing Wishes for the opportunity.

For more information on the Sharing Wishes Fund, or to make a donation, visit SharingWishesFund.org.