Dream Foundation Sending Milford Man With Lung Cancer To Tennessee
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
MILFORD - In December, Rick Adams was diagnosed with Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma of the lungs.
When Rick and his wife, Vickie, found out Rick had lung cancer, Vickie started looking at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. However, she found it was only for children up to 18 years old.
But wanting to fulfill one of Rick's dreams, Vickie kept looking. She stumbled upon The Dream Foundation out of California.
According to its official website, "Dream Foundation, founded in Santa Barbara in 1994 by Thomas Rollerson, is the first national wish-granting organization for adults suffering life-threatening illness. The mission of the Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families who are battling life-threatening illness. Dream Foundation helps adults find peace and closure with the realization of a final wish."
In an interview Thursday afternoon, Vickie said the application process took 2-1/2 months. They had to fill out lots of paperwork, and submit everything from their tax to medical information.
"They wanted everything," Vickie said.
But she would do it again to get Rick his dream trip.
"It wasn't that big of a deal. A lot of paperwork to fill out," she said.Rick's original dream was to visit Gatlinburg, Tenn., with his wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law and three granddaughters. However, his sons' schedules couldn't be worked out, so Rick and Vickie will make the trip to Tennessee by themselves for about a week.
Their two older sons were in the military in Iraq at the same time. The oldest is now out of the Army, while the middle son is becoming an Air Force recruiter in Muncie to be closer to home. Their third son is married and lives in Fort Wayne.
Rick said they've been done to the area before. On his Dream trip, he plans to sit in the hills and take in the sites.
"That's about all I can do. I can't walk a lot without running out of air. Everyone tells me I have to go (to Gatlinburg) as it's absolutely beautiful," Rick said.
Vickie said they plan to "just get away from here, and spend time together."
Rick, 49, and Vickie, 47, have spent many years together. On Sept. 26, they will be celebrating their 29th anniversary, but have been together 35 years. Vickie said they started seeing each other when she was 13 by sitting together at church.
Rick and Vickie aren't sure exactly when they will be making the trip down to Gatlinburg, but they plan to enjoy every minute of it.
"I hope sometime later this month, but I'm not positive when. For just the two of us, it really doesn't matter," she said.
