On Aug. 7, White was treated to a seafood dinner and a local concert featuring several Southern gospel artists as part of New Beacon Hospice’s Second Wind Dreams program.
White, who has been battling bone cancer for six years, said it was an experience she won’t soon forget.
“I felt like a queen,” White said.
Second Wind Dreams has been granting wishes for seniors in the United States and Canada for 13 years.
The program originally focused on seniors in assisted living communities. When it began accepting other health care agencies such as hospices, New Beacon was eager to join.
“Because of our patients being terminally ill, we wanted to honor them and make them feel special by providing a dream,” said bereavement coordinator Ginny Roberts.
White was selected as the first recipient.
She said she was so surprised when asked about her dreams that she couldn’t think of any.
“I just told them that I’d like to go to Red Lobster one more time and I’d like to go to a good old gospel singing like my family and I used to go to,” White said.
The hospice’s Second Wind Dreams board, which includes representatives from several local businesses and non-profits, went to work.
On the night of the concert, White was presented with flowers donated by Dill’s Florist.
She wore a new outfit given to her by Kay’s, a Jasper clothing store.
The dinner was bought at Bayou Fresh Seafood in Jasper and a Red Lobster in Birmingham.
White’s sister, Billie Boteler, also made a surprise trip from Hartselle to share the night with her.
The gospel concert featured an Alabama favorite, New Ground, and longtime singing family the McKameys.
“They really did some good singing. It did my heart good,” White said.
Roberts said the New Beacon Hospice board hopes to make a Second Wind Dream come true once a month.
White said the new program helped her more than some may know.
“When you’re in the shape that I’m in, and I’m sure there are others that are much worse, something like this puts a sparkle in your eye,” White said.