VITAS Wish Maker Gives a Patient a Reason to Smile

In July 2023, diagnosed with terminal cirrhosis of the liver, Heidi was admitted to Aspire at the Sea, a skilled nursing facility in Pompano Beach, Florida. At only 50 years old, she was nonverbal, unable to swallow on her own, and on a ventilator. Her prognosis was grim.

Orphaned by her mother at a young age, and with an absent father, she had no family to speak of. By the time she arrived in the care of VITAS Healthcare in Broward County, Florida, happiness had been scarce.

The VITAS team was determined to change that.

A Simple Wish is Spoken

After more than a year in hospice care, Heidi was cleared to eat a regular diet. She was later fitted with a pair of dentures.

Nicole Clarke, a VITAS representative, was there when Heidi received her dentures, and the first thing she told Nicole was, “I wish I could eat a Wendy’s burger.”

Two people stand behind a table of Wendy's hamburgers, French fries and 2-liter soda bottles with a purple VITAS Healthcare banner behind them — A VITAS Wish Maker celebration featured a Wendy’s restaurant “burger party” for all residents.

Nicole recognized that this would be a perfect VITAS Wish Maker request and spoke up during her team meeting. VITAS Wish Maker is a program that fulfills special requests from hospice patients and is made possible entirely through donations.

Director of Market Development Julia Silverio reached out to the local Wendy’s restaurant (1840 East Atlantic Blvd. in Pompano Beach, Florida) to coordinate the effort. What began as a simple request for one Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburger became a “burger party” for the entire nursing facility to celebrate with Heidi.

The Wish Maker committee transformed space in the nursing facility into a miniature Wendy’s restaurant complete with tablecloths and balloon centerpieces. Everyone received a hamburger crown or silly glasses to wear. Representatives from VITAS, the nursing facility, and Wendy’s attended, highlighting the collaborative spirit and support from the community.

Making Every Patient Matter

Wendy’s Store Manager Shantell Wright and District Manager Carline Cede provided 56 hamburgers and orders of fries for everyone, including four special burgers to accommodate dietary restrictions. The Wendy’s team delivered the food and personally distributed burgers and fries to every patient in the facility.

Six people standing together in a group smiling and two hold a Wendy's Wish Maker plaque — Wendy’s managers Shantell Wright and Carline Cede receive a special plaque commemorating the new partners.

“What makes this wish so different and so beautiful is not only did the owner and manager of the Wendy's franchise come in and help hand things out, but they also took the time to talk to the patients,” says VITAS Team Manager Ashante Preston. “They delivered food to patients in their rooms who usually would not be able to attend something like this because they are bed-bound. They took their time and made sure those patients were included as well.”

“Granting a last wish is a great thing, but when it’s something that we were able to help fulfill by giving her that burger that she wanted, why not!” said Shantell. “Everyone has that one thing that they want, and she wanted a Wendy’s hamburger.”

Carline added, “That was the wish she wanted, and we were more than happy to grant that wish.”

To commemorate the occasion, VITAS presented Wendy’s with a plaque recognizing their partnership.

One Taste Is Worth a Thousand Smiles

When Heidi bit into her long-awaited hamburger, her face displayed sheer pleasure. The usually reserved patient who preferred to spend time alone in her room suddenly became animated, calling out to her nurse with excitement.

Sandra Lindsay, a VITAS team manager, attended the event. After listening to Heidi tell her story, she was especially moved. “This was somebody who had nothing but heartbreak and an unhappy life, finally having one of her wishes come true, and come true in a bigger way than she could imagine,” she says of the experience. “She finally had something happy.”

Small Gestures Make a Big Impact

The long-term psychosocial impact of the Wish Maker’s event has been evident in Heidi’s change of demeanor.

Today, she is no longer the reserved woman with little to say. She welcomes conversations and has become something of a hero to the other residents at her nursing facility.

It made the difference between feeling alone and knowing that people care.-Ashante Preston, VITAS team manager

“I believe she saw how much people cared, and she saw the impact the Wish Maker event made on other people,” says Sandra. “People were saying, ‘Thank you, Heidi. Thank you for the burger party.’”

“It made the difference between feeling alone and knowing that people care,” Ashante adds.

A Very Happy Outlook

Heidi’s condition has improved dramatically since she came on our services in July 2023. A critical part of the hospice-eligibility process is re-evaluating patients at specific intervals. If a patient’s condition begins to improve and the physician determines they are likely to live longer than six months, they are no longer candidates for hospice.

Patients may be discharged for extended prognosis if their disease progresses slower than anticipated or they experience a temporary improvement in their health. Given the quality care and attention Heidi received since her admittance to Aspire at the Sea, her health has stabilized, and she is scheduled to be discharged from hospice services soon.

The joy has been infectious, and the Broward County program now has three more Wishes pending.

“We're celebrating our patients,” says Sandra. “We can see the positive effects and the joy from the family members when we go out of our way to celebrate the patient. At the end of life, we're finding the nuggets of joy.”