Dottie Jackson, resident of Heritage Club Denver Tech Center, a Brookdale Senior Living assisted living community in Denver, recently had her wish granted to fly in an airplane again through Brookdale Senior Living and Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime (JBWOL).
Flying holds a special place in Jackson’s heart, bringing back memories of her brothers, husband and children. Jackson’s three brothers flew in and lost their lives in World War II. Prior to serving in the war, Jackson’s brothers built their own plane. Her late husband also flew. When looking back on her flying experiences, Jackson’s most fond memories are of flying with all of her children in the back of a plane.
Even though flying was such a significant aspect of her life, Jackson has not been able to fly since she moved to Denver after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Jackson’s Wish of a Lifetime was to fly in an airplane again. Described by many as vivacious, spunky and full of life, Jackson had one special request when submitting her wish.
"My wish is to fly again, preferably with a cute guy by my side," said Jackson.
On Monday, Aug. 22, Brookdale Senior Living and JBWOL granted Jackson’s wish to fly again with the help of Journeys Aviation. Pilot Tracey Spence from Journeys Aviation led Jackson, accompanied by her grandson and great grandson on a flying tour of Boulder and the surrounding areas.
As Jackson made her way to the plane, she realized she would be flying in the same type of plane she used to own.
Jackson prepares for her dream flight, accompanied by her son and great-grandson.
Jackson was granted her wish to fly in an airplane again through Brookdale and JBWOL, a nonprofit organization dedicated to granting life-enriching wishes to older Americans. Brookdale Senior Living has sponsored this and many other wishes granted by JBWOL.
To request her wish, Jackson filled out a wish application explaining an experience she would like to have fulfilled. Brookdale residents are encouraged to think about how that experience relates to one or more dimensions of the company’s Optimum Life® platform. The six dimensions of Optimum Life are emotional, social, physical, intellectual, spiritual and purposeful.
Brookdale’s Optimum Life® platform is geared toward cultivating whole-person wellness through fulfillment in the six key dimensions. Both Brookdale and Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime provide a helping hand in making some of the dreams of Brookdale’s residents come true. Residents at Brookdale Senior Living communities nationwide are invited to share and submit their wishes to Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime.
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