Take me out to the ballgame! Fondest dream comes true for Penacook residents.
HAVERHILL – From cheering for the home team and singing the national anthem to waving foam fingers and eating hot dogs, two residents of Penacook Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center were able to immerse themselves in the baseball fan experience this summer thanks to Penacook’s Tree of Dreams program.
Victoria Clough, 90, loves baseball but had never been to a game. Thanks to Trinity Ambulance, which donated 12 tickets, Victoria, joined by six residents and five staff members, attended a Lowell Spinners Game at LeLacheur Park on August 12.
“She had a ball,” said Rehabilitation Technician Beth Torla. “Victoria was getting into the music and the clapping and the stomping. She really enjoyed herself.”
Bill Hartford, 80, had a similar dream. Bill always wanted to see a game at Fenway Park. Penacook staff had been working on making his dream come true for a while. Thanks to a donation of 15 tickets from the Boston Red Sox, Hartford got his wish on September 1. He traveled to Fenway to watch the Sox play the Baltimore Orioles, sharing the experience with some friends and staff members.
“Bill absolutely loved it. He had a smile on his face from the minute we left until we got back. He kept saying he couldn’t believe he was finally at Fenway,” said Torla.
Penacook’s nationally recognized Tree of Dreams program gives Penacook residents the opportunity to have their wishes come true. They are encouraged to explore their dreams and create wish lists. Other wishes that have been granted for residents include attending concerts, enjoying special meals, playing golf and going for a ride in a limousine. Local businesses and individuals often help out with expenses associated with granting wishes.