A Donor-Powered Dream Brought the Beach to Charlotte

Ms. Charlotte, a hospice patient living alone, longed to feel the sand between her toes and hear the waves of the ocean, but travel was no longer possible. Thanks to your generosity—and the creativity of Elara’s Oklahoma hospice team—Charlotte’s final wish was fulfilled in a way that brought her freedom, joy and deep peace.

The team turned a simple Virtual Reality headset into a true 4D adventure. With a lei around her neck, a colorful bikini t-shirt and an umbrella drink in hand, Charlotte was surrounded by the sights, sounds and even sensations of the beach. Her feet were placed in a small pool of water, while one of the caregivers gently lapped the water against her skin, simulating an incoming tide. Tiffany, the music therapist, strummed beach songs on her ukulele as soft breezes from a fan swayed nearby.

“The breeze moved the leaves in the palm trees, the gentle waves lapped at her feet and she swung lazily in a hammock listening to the sounds of the waves,” described Elara Caring Oklahoma Hospice Administrator Kindra. “Ms. Charlotte was not physically at the beach, but in her mind, and even more so in her soul, she was there. The memories flooded back like a rising tide and for a moment, she forgot where she was.”

Charlotte’s own words spoke volumes: “I don’t have any stress; I’m at the beach.”

Smiling ear to ear, she pointed out how much she “just loved the turquoise color of the water” and the feeling of being present in a place she once adored.

Chaplain Steve reflected, “While the experience for Ms. Charlotte was virtual, the joy radiating from her soul was very real.”

Behind the scenes, the team—Heather (nurse), Tiffany (music therapist), Sabrina (social worker) and Steve (chaplain)—had carefully planned every detail to make the virtual experience come alive. Their efforts, along with your support, transformed technology into a powerful gift of memory and meaning.

As one team member put it, “The joy on her face was absolutely priceless.”

You did not just fund a VR experience. You gave Charlotte joy, freedom and the fulfillment of her last wish.