Santa Barbara, CA – Dream Foundation – the first and largest national wish-granting organization for adults and their families suffering life-threatening illness – will fulfill Julie Harding-Beck’s final wish to bring joy to the lives of her three children, who have been devastated by the effects of terminal illness.
With a prognosis of less than six months due to advanced-stage breast cancer, Julie, a 43-year-old Oceanside, Calif. resident and single mother will be taking her kids on the Disneyland vacation she’s always dreamed – but never been able – to realize on her own.
“My children’s lives have been filled with cancer and sickness for three years,” Julie tells Dream Foundation. “They need to know some happiness.”
At 2:30 p.m., Friday, February 22, Genentech volunteers representing the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based foundation will arrive at Julie’s home, 2014 San Remo Dr., Oceanside – presenting her and her kids with four nights’ accommodations at the Sheraton Anaheim Hotel (for March 3-7) and tickets for two days at Disneyland and one day at Universal Studios. To enhance the dream experience, the volunteers will surprise the 12-year-old and eight-year-old twins with Disney-themed treats and memorabilia. A professional photographer will be there to capture the memories unfolding.
Julie’s Disney dream is emerging amid considerable hardship. A 13-year teacher in the Oceanside Unified School District, she had felt healthy and fulfilled in her career and personal life. Then in 2009 she received her cancer diagnosis. By 2010 her doctor had given her a two percent chance of survival. Three months after that, she says her husband left, “unable to deal with the stresses of it all.” Now, amid frequent and aggressive medical treatments, Julie struggles to raise her family on disability payments alone.
According to Dream Foundation President and Founder, Thomas Rollerson, the opportunity for a special vacation and – more importantly – making permanent, lasting memories, is crucial for this family. “Coping with the impending loss of their mother is the most difficult challenge these children will ever face. It is our mission to provide them whatever joy we can. Helping make a final dream come true for people like Julie is our daily inspiration.”
Santa Barbara, CA – With a prognosis of less than three months to live due to advanced-stage heart disease, 88-year-old St. Louis resident, Dorothy White, will experience her wish to reunite with the man she loves but is separated from by distance, the poor state of each of their health, and – most pivotally – that both have been too shy to share their mutual feelings of admiration and love.
Her dream is being fulfilled by the Santa Barbara, California-based Dream Foundation – the first and largest national wish-granting organization for adults and their families suffering life-threatening illness.
At 5 p.m., Saturday, February 18, the pair – each escorted by their respective caregivers – will come together one last time, for a belated Valentine’s Day dinner at Ryan’s Steakhouse, 7597 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis. In preparation for the dinner, Dorothy will receive a new outfit and a trip to the beauty salon.
Dorothy and Ralph originally connected in the early 1980s when Dorothy’s sister, Marilyn, died. Marilyn and Ralph had been married. In his grief, Ralph began helping Dorothy (also a young widow) around her home – bringing in trashcans, delivering groceries, and even making her house payment when times got tough. They were neighbors for 40 years and had nurtured a close relationship. But, out of respect
to Marilyn, Dorothy said they never disclosed their feelings to anyone – including one another – and only ever called each other, “friend.”
As Dorothy’s health declined she moved to a nursing home out of town. Ralph – himself battling terminal cancer – continued to check in on her empty house, but their visits became few and far between. Ralph has finally revealed his love for Dorothy to her family; she’s confided the same thing to her nurse.
“I want Ralph to be my Valentine,” Dortothy also told Dream Foundation. “He’s my favorite man in the world.”
According to Dream Foundation President and Founder, Thomas Rollerson, the opportunity for a special night out is so profound for this pair. “It’s a love story validated. And after so many years, what could be more fulfilling – and provide more closure – than that? Helping make a final dream come true for people like Dorothy is our daily inspiration.”
Santa Barbara, CA – With a limited prognosis of less than one month to live due to advanced-stage cancer, 53-year-old Reginald “Reggie” Johnson will experience his wish for a final Valentine’s Day with his wife – a cozy staycation in their own hometown, where the essence of the beach will come to them, since he’s too ill to travel there himself.
At 11 a.m., Friday, January 27, Dream Foundation volunteers from Genentech will arrive at Reggie’s Kilgore, Texas home, presenting him and his wife, Judy, with two nights’ accommodations at the nearby Comfort Suites – which they will enjoy February 3rd and 4th. To further enhance the dream experience and help bring the beach to Reggie, the volunteers will surprise the couple with ocean-themed accoutrements they can enjoy while they’re away.
Also committed to the effort, the Comfort Suites staff will decorate, dress the room and leave beach-themed goodies in advance of the Johnsons’ visit.
The fulfillment of Reggie’s dream is coordinated by the Santa Barbara, California-based Dream Foundation – the first and largest national wish-granting organization for adults and their families suffering life-threatening illness.
This romantic Valentine’s getaway comes amid considerable hardship for Reggie. He has been struggling with cancer for four years and, according to Judy, is rapidly declining and losing his propensity for happiness. Although she works two jobs to support them, while remaining his primary caregiver, the couple struggles financially due to high costs of medical care and treatments.
“We haven’t been able to do anything in a long time because of our finances,” Judy writes in a letter to Dream Foundation. “We had talked about going to the beach when he got better, but I know we won’t be able to. This could be the last time we get to go away just the two of us, to relax and enjoy each other.”
According to Dream Foundation President and Founder, Thomas Rollerson, the weekend away will offer Reggie and Judy a great deal of comfort. “Fulfilling a final dream from the heart for people like Reggie is our daily inspiration,” says Dream Foundation Founder and President, Thomas Rollerson. “We are privileged to help make something so special a reality for this man.”
Santa Barbara, Calif. – December 2, 2011 − Dream Foundation, the first and largest national wish- granting organization for adults in the end stages of life, is offering non-monetary ways to help those in need this holiday season. The 4-Star Charity Navigator-rated organization fulfills nearly 2,000 final dreams each year. Thirty percent – representing approximately 1,000 airline tickets for dream recipients and/or their loved ones – involved travel, including urgent bedside goodbyes, family reunions and final trips with children.
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Santa Barbara, CA – Monday, October 3, 2011, Dream Foundation – the first and largest national wish-granting organization for adults and their families suffering life-threatening illness – will fulfill Chaz Fudge’s final dream to find closure by visiting the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, NY.
Fudge is facing a 6-12 month prognosis in his battle with stage IV (non-small cell) lung cancer, believed to have been caused by the inhalation of asbestos during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Fudge served as a Telecommunication Analyst at Ground Zero for Mattel Telecom and suffered many broken bones during the attack. Several years later, his wife – a high school teacher – died of breast cancer and Fudge was left to raise his then 13-year-old son on his own.
In his letter to Dream Foundation, Fudge writes, “I was left with a 13-year-old, African-American son, Chaz III. My wife’s, mother’s and dad’s dying wishes were for him to receive a college education, as my wife and I had been afforded. It has been rough physically, mentally and financially. We have not had a real vacation since his mother was living.” Read More »
