Pennsylvania long-term care resident Doris Fosbenner, 85, spent an evening in mid-September floating across the skies after facility leaders made her lifelong dream of riding a hot air balloon come true.
The Phoebe Richland Health Care Center in Richlandtown, PA, set up Fosbenner’s ride to fulfill her wish after she told staff about a childhood experience when she witnessed a hot air balloon flight. She had never had a chance to take a ride herself.
Staffers were committed to making the dream happen but soon realized that finding a hot air balloon pilot “was harder than [they] thought” since they needed a pilot who could accommodate wheelchairs, according to AnnMarie Pettito-Thomas, community life lead at Phoebe Richland.
Luckily, they found Lehigh Valley Hot Air, a family-owned hot air balloon company operated by local pilot Will Randell.
“We love making wishes come true,” Randell said.
Fosbenner’s trip on the hot air balloon went off without any problems and allowed her to float above the local community while friends, family and staff cheered her on.
“I could see all of you waving up at me,” Fosbenner said after the ride. “It was great!”
From the November 2021 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
