Thursday, October 16, 2014

First Wish Fulfilled for Hospice Patient By State of the Heart Wish Program

Pictured is Larry Kelly and Linda Allen
Recently, a State of the Heart Hospice patient and his fiancé were able to fulfill a wish they had, thanks to “Corynna’s Wish,” a wish granting program created by State of the Heart Hospice and the Dream Foundation in California.

“We got to see the sun set on the ocean and we got to see the sun rise as well,” stated Linda Allen, the fiancé of State of the Heart Hospice patient Larry Kelly. The Dunkirk, Indiana residents recently traveled to Clearwater, Florida where they experienced a final wish that Larry had. His fiancé had never seen the ocean. “I wanted for her to see the sunrise and sunset with me,” he explained. He has ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Larry has had the disease for the past two years; life expectancy is three to five years with the fatal disease.

“It was great seeing this first wish fulfilled,” stated Kristi Strawser, the mother of Corynna Strawser, 16, who died in December under the care of State of the Heart. She had a rare disease called Mitochondrial Disease for which there is no cure. Her story and efforts to educate people about the disease touched the hearts and minds of countless people. She also believed in “paying it forward,” helping others as she had been helped.

“So many people stepped up to help her accomplish things she wanted to do,” Strawser said. “It is interesting that those same helpful efforts are being carried forward for others. It is inspiring.”

Kelly had expressed a desire to take his fiancé to see the ocean while he was still able to do so. The couple was gone four days in early October. The Dream Foundation paid for the airfare and hotel, and Corynna’s Wish paid for their food and incidentals while in Florida.

“It is just beautiful,” said Allen when she arrived and viewed the beach from her hotel balcony which overlooked a vast expanse of white sand. The couple did get to walk the beach together, fulfilling another wish. “It was a beautiful experience,” said Larry after returning home to Indiana.

It was coincidental that the day they returned home, Saturday, October 4, was the same day that State of the Heart held the first fund raiser for Corynna’s Wish at the Stillwater Valley Golf Club near Versailles. “It was a night of great fun for golfers and a unique experience,” stated Ryan Gathard, Fund Development Director for State of the Heart. “It was gratifying to see the support for the event, and to realize that funds raised for Corynna’s Wish will help other patients like Larry fulfill their wish.”

Corynna’s Wish was established this year by the nonprofit agency and is for State of the Heart patients who either cannot financially accomplish their wish or are limited in their physical abilities to complete their final wish in life. State of the Heart cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness.

Allen said that she cried before they left the hotel. “I was so happy,” she said. “I wished it could have gone on longer.” The couple is extremely grateful for the efforts to fulfill Larry’s wish, she said.

For more information about Corynna’s Wish or to make a contribution to the program, or to learn more about the services provided by State of the Heart, visit the agency web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org

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