53-year-old man realizes final wish to enjoy early Valentine’s Day with his wife » Dream Foundation

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53-year-old man realizes final wish to enjoy early Valentine’s Day with his wife

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.”

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