Category: 2018

Erica Chase-Solerno’s wish has been granted to take her husband and kids ages 14 and 12, to a beach vacation before she passes, just to relax without any other obligations. Erica is trying to infuse LIFE and FUN into her remaining time with the family, and feels that “a plain old beach vacation to a town we feel comfortable in” will be a gift they will treasure for years to come.

They will stay at the Crest Motel in Old Orchard, Maine, a driving distance away and the first place the family ever vacationed in. That summer, her son’s knee injury and my husband’s back injury limited their experience there and Erica has wanted to return ever since. She is looking forward to one more chance to stay there and create new memories with these loves of her life. In addition, a week away will give them a respite from the stress of navigating my terminal cancer and mounting responsibilities for elderly parents.

Lisa Overton is now battling lung cancer after enduring many hardships as a single mom in Indiana. Her wish has been granted to make some nice memories with her kids (ages 20 and 26) and now grandkids. They will spend time together in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Billy Gross was granted a wish for a heated recliner so that he could sit with no pain.

 

 

The family will travel to DisneyWorld to enjoy some family time away from hospitals.

Dionna’s wish has been granted to travel to Florida to watch her son play in a baseball tournament.

Megan is 42 years old and at 40 was diagnosed with stage 4 mucosytic colon cancer. She just had her third surgery and has failed two different chemotherapy regimens. Her sister said she has been so positive during everything even though she has gotten nothing but bad news for two years and has been struggling to make it on her own as a single woman. Megan is “an amazing aunt and sister”. Megan lives in Maryland and has been granted a two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency in Chesapeake Bay to enjoy some time with her nieces and nephews.

Jonathan Ham’s family requested a vacation where they would be able to sit around telling stories, making memories and just enjoying being together. Jon is 44 and in his eighth round of chemo for stage 4 pancreatic cancer, trying to make the most of every day as he fights the fatigue. His whole family is trying to help. They have been granted a Royal Caribbean cruise on Oasis Of the Seas, which will visit Orlando, Labadee, Haiti, and Jamaica.

 

Stella’s Wish Foundation has arranged for Joni Morris and her family, of Arizona, to stay at the Hotel Del Coronado’s tower cabana in San Diego for three nights. Joni has a husband, son age 21 and two teenage daughters.

Before Jason Rice’s diagnosis of stage 4 cancer, he was an engineer with the railroad. He always wanted to experience a train ride with his children and visit the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. SWF is sending the family by train from Quincy to Chicago, IL and they hope to even take the children to the zoo as well. Jason’s memory is starting to decline, so they are trying to create what memories they can while he is still able.

 

Jerry Wilke was diagnosed in 2005 and has had a very long road of treatment. He just retired officially at the end of December, as it was getting hard to work. He has a lot of bone pain but his family says that through it all, he has had a great attitude. He tries to spend as much time with his grandchildren as he can, as he wants them to remember him in real life, not just in photographs.

His daughter remembers Jerry mentioning that he wished he could take a tropical vacation with his wife, Jenny, but they are unable to afford to go anywhere too far away. She asked to surprise them with a trip to Hawaii and SWF is making it happen.