Sue Bess Tipton, a resident of Sterling House, has always loved horses. Her dream was to touch a horse. So.....

since we couldn't take Sue to the horse, we brought the horse to Sue.

We DID turn a few heads - you don't often see horses in nursing homes.

Sue spent some time with "Fancy" while her son, Bruce, looked on.

Our thanks to Polly Johnson and daughter Cassidy, Fancy's owners, for helping Sue's dream come true.

Ed Rydstrom is a resident at Grand Court. At age 91, he has taught himself to play chess.

Ed's dream was a simple one - he wanted someone to play chess with him. Frank Lewis, owner of Jackson Lytle Williams and Ingling Williams Funeral Homes, cleared a Monday afternoon from his busy schedule to play chess with Ed. And they played for 3 hours.

How good of a chess player IS 91-year-old, self-taught Ed? Says Lewis, "That was the first time he played and he was not bad."

Lewis added, "He learned alot and it was a great time for both of us. I will return and play periodically. The staff [of Grand Court] said he has not stopped talking about it."

On Thursday January 24 Lora and Owen Damewood (age 90 & 92) celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family and friends.

Due to Owens health he lives at the Patriot Ridge Nursing Home in Fairborn and Lora resides at the Grand Court in Springfield.

They were married in southern Ohio at a Methodist parsonage seventy years ago. They went on to have 4 children, ten grand children and 11 great grand children. According to both of them, they have had a great seventy years together.

Lora and Owen were totally surprised when the Senior Dream Center brought them together in grand style.

Lora and her friends, Wilma Kime, Betty Bohn, Bessie Watkinson and Karen Ricketts had a grand send off with flowers and balloons from the Grand Court. They were chauffeured by a Limousine to Fairborn, where they surprised Owen with an anniversary party.

True love never dies. A big thanks to Jackson, Lytle & Williams Funeral Home for providing a chauffer and limousine.

"This was an affair to remember."

The Senior Dream Center received a request from Elderly United that read, in part,

"George Reggina is a senior who volunteers with Elderly United. Last December, he rescued a dog on the street who had been thrown out by his owners. He has cared for him since with very limited means. George is a very compassionate man , and would love to be able to give "Stash" (when he gives him food he "stashes" it!) what he needs. Stash needs a good grooming - shampoo, clip etc. Doggie toys, treats, bones and a bed would be wonderful. Stash is a 45 lb shepherd/border collie mix. George has selflessly helped so many people and a variety of animals and it would be so great if we could help him."

The Senior Dream Center got to work. In conjunction with Petsmart, Jackson, Lytle & Williams Funeral Home, Neal Kennels, Southwest Landmark, and Senior Advisory Services Group, we arranged for "Stash" to get the pampering he needed.

Sylvia Will, owner of Neal Kennels, gave him a good bathing and a desperately needed grooming.

Southwest Landmark provided dog food and the local Petsmart store provided treats, toys and a bed — everything today's modern dog requires.

Thanks to the Senior Dream Center and its cooperating businesses, Stash is now a well-groomed, cultured dog-about-town.

And thank you to George Reggina for his selfless service to Elderly United.

Margaret Williams, who is in the dementia unit at South Brook Nursing Home, is 99 years old and in a wheelchair. Margaret's dream was to enjoy a ride around Springfield to see the sites. She used to live on Pleasant St. and would enjoy going past her old home, plus seeing Snyder Park and Davy Moore Park.

The Senior Dream Center sprang into action. Traci Skeen from Jackson Lytle & Williams Funeral Home took their limo to Southbrook Care Center, picked up Margaret, Edith Hardy (Margaret's legal guardian) and Southbrook employees Stacy Walton and Robin Jordan and took a grand tour of the west end of Springfield.

The tour included Margaret's old neighborhood, Snyder Park and the Upper Valley Mall, which Margaret had never seen before. Then everyone had lunch at the Olive Garden. (Lunch was also on Jackson Lytle & Williams Funeral Home.)

Elderly United of Springfield told us about Frank Goff, who has a dog, Susie, who could not walk because she had a tumor the size of a softball in her left shoulder. Frank is of modest means and could not afford to pay for the procedure .

Thanks to the generosity of Senior Dream Center sponsors, we were able to pay for the procedure. Now Susie is running and playing like dogs love to do.

This was also a dream that will keep on giving. Frank informed us that, due to this experience, he was going to start volunteering at Elderly United to help out others.

Shown in the photo, left to right, are Steve Temple of Senior Advisory Services Group, Frank, Susie and Frank Lewis of Jackson Lytle & Williams Funeral Home.

Your continued support of the Senior Dream Center helps make sure that we can keep reporting on happy stories like this one.

Joan is 76 years old, is living in the I00F home and has mild MD disabilities. She was promised a private room and is now getting a roommate and has to downsize her room. Her wish is to have a smaller recliner.

At 6 years old, Joan's mother put her in Orient institution, left and never came back. No one could find any members of Joan's family. For 7 years, Joan was flat on her back, so the recliner is a big step for her. Joan receives $30 a month.

The Senior Dream Center contacted Sue Call of Sue's New & Used Furniture in the Southern Village Shopping Center. Sue came up with a recliner just the right size for Joan and that would fit in her room.

Pictured with Joan (seated) are Bonnie Potter (standing, left), Joan's guardian, and Sue Call.

Thanks to the Senior Dream Center and the generosity of Sue's New & Used Furniture, Joan is again able to get out of bed.