Senior Citizen Receives Wish of a Lifetime

LOMA LINDA >> Sometimes, it takes a little push from those you love to keep you dancing. This was the case for Norbert Wagner. Norbert and his wife, Mayola, are citizens in their 90's who were once residents at Loma Linda’s Brookdale Retirement Living complex, an assisted living complex with caregivers and staff who make sure the residents are well taken care of. It is thanks to two staff members and his wife that Norbert received another chance to dance. Resident Programs Director Dana McKee had just started working at Brookdale and was quick to get to know Norbert, a resident who was so insistent on her meeting his bedridden wife, who had previously been in a bad car accident, wrecking her back and leaving her unable to care for herself. The two became friends and had conversations where McKee learned of Mayola’s worries about Norbert. McKee said Mayola worried that because he was always taking care of her, he never had any time for himself to have fun and socialize, and that he might be unhappy. McKee was quick to assure Mayola that Norbert was absolutely happy with being there for her and that he loved her, but the worry was still there, so McKee decided that she wanted to do something to help both the Wagners. While also previously the owner of a dry-cleaning business in Arrowhead and a drivers-ed teacher in Loma Linda, Norbert was a former champion dancer, having won many competitions in Chicago. In fact, he and Mayola had spent a lot of their leisure time dancing together way into their late years. It was in his 80s that Norbert’s knees gave out and he was unable to continue dancing. He now gets around in a power chair and sometimes with a walker. It was through Brookdale's Executive Director, Lori Spencer, that McKee said she heard about Wish of a Lifetime; a program invested in helping change the way society views older generations and fulfilling seniors’ dreams and wishes. McKee knew exactly what she wanted to do for Norbert. McKee gave credit to Spencer for encouraging her to make a wish for one of their residents. “I knew a group called Pam Kay and the Tap Chicks who were all senior dancers and just terrific,” McKee said. “They are funny and defy age. I thought this show would be something Mayola would love for him to see, too." The Tap Chicks are a dance group from the Pasadena Senior Center taught by Pam Kay, a professional entertainer who once opened for Sammy Davis Jr., and has been creating tap and jazz infused Broadway-style dance routines to help promote longevity and quality of life through dance. McKee submitted a wish for the dancing troupe to come put on a show for Norbert and on July 27, Pam Key and the Tap Chicks came to preform. “It would lift his spirits and maybe encourage him to get physical therapy and dance again,” McKee said. “I don’t believe we’re ever too old or sick – I believe in miracles." Norbert told McKee he was touched by people thinking of him and touched at the Wish of a Lifetime’s generosity. During the event, three generations of Norbert's family had been there, including his daughter, his grand-daughter and his great grand-daughter. He had also invited many of his friends and neighbors, some of which had known and watched he and Mayola dance for 20 years. Mckee said Norbert had a fantastic time, singing and joining in on the fun along with the performers. Wish of a Lifetime not only paid for the performers, but also paid for a big stage for the tappers to dance on, a cake and refreshments for all the attendees. McKee said everyone was impressed and thankful by the organization and by the fact that they let it all happen at Brookdale for everyone to enjoy. "We're all still floating around," McKee said, "it raised the energy level here and it's still happening, we're all just in a great mood from it." As for Norbert, after he had gone home and taken a much-needed 12-hour nap, he called McKee to share with her how happy he was and how he was still reeling from it. Recently, Norbert and Mayola had to leave Brookdale’s assisted living for a place with skilled nursing assistance due to a change in Mayola’s care level. While Norbert could have remained at Brookdale, he chose to be with his wife, and fortunately the two are only a few miles away, so the staff and residents at Brookdale still get to see him. He attends the computer classes they hold so he can learn how to use his new laptop.