Linda’s wish was to visit her husband at his aged care facility

After 50 years together, raising a family, sharing the ups and downs of life and the joys of a loving relationship, Linda wished to create forever memories for her family and to be reunited with husband Greg for one final special afternoon.

For the past two and a half years, Greg has resided in Beaumont Care Mount Tamborine, where Linda would visit him each day, with news of family and friends, spending time with her husband and celebrating milestones such as their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Never missing a day, Linda and Greg are for many of us the epitome of love, always there for each other, true partners and the rock on which their foundation of family has been built. However, when Linda herself, started to need care at the palliative care unit at the Robina Hospital, she was no longer able to visit her Greg at his aged care facility and he was unable to visit her at the palliative care unit.

But Linda was determined not to let circumstances prevent her from spending one last afternoon with Greg, surrounded by her loving children Kylie and Geoffrey, and creating forever memories that will mean so much to everyone.

On a beautiful Queensland winter’s afternoon, Linda was transported in our Wish Ambulance (Betty), for the trip up the mountain for her reunion with Greg. As the family reconnected, shared in each other’s love and reminisced about their lives together, it was hard not to be moved by the power of their love which has stood the test of time and shone as brightly as on the day they were married over 50 years ago.

Not only was the day celebrated by Linda, Greg, Kylie and Geoffrey, but the aged care facility staff who knew Linda well, also popped into to Greg’s room and one by one said goodbye to Linda and put on a beautiful spread of fruit platters and sandwiches for the family.

And even if the memories of an afternoon fade over time, Greg will always have a reminder of the day, with the family deciding that their Ambulance Wish Book will take pride of place in Greg’s room, so that after Linda’s passing, there will be a way to remember, reconnect and celebrate a lifetime of love, commitment and happiness.

Thank you to Kristy, Emilia, Java, Tash, Maureen and Dawn, who delivered Linda’s Wish and Robina Hospital Palliative Care Inpatient Unit and Beaumont Care Mount Tamborine for their support.

Ambulance Wish Queensland is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, and we thank the staff and volunteers at both Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service who help our Palliative Care Queensland team to fulfil wishes and create memories forever.