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One last wish by the sea: Thomas' moving journey to Travemünde
Volunteers fulfill the heartfelt wishes of seriously ill people in northern Germany, including trips to the Baltic Sea and special moments with families.
One last wish by the sea: Thomas' moving journey to Travemünde
Sometimes it's the little wishes that bring the greatest light in life. This becomes particularly clear when seriously ill people who are struggling with their situation have a final heartfelt wish. The wish car of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) has set itself the task of giving shape to such wishes. An example of this is 67-year-old Thomas, who lives in a hospice in Bad Oldesloe and longed to visit the Baltic Sea one last time. On April 8th, a volunteer team led by Kristina, Hans-Rudolf and Hauke made this dream come true, and Thomas had the opportunity to enjoy the fresh sea air and the waves again.
The first stop was the picturesque old town of Lübeck, where Thomas' mother joined the tour group. We continued to the pier in Travemünde, where the sky was bright blue and the atmosphere was peaceful. When Thomas arrived, Gosch's delicious fish sandwich was already waiting for him. Despite the strenuous journey and his weakening strength, he spent a day full of warmth, memories and love. “It was simply indescribable,” said Hauke, one of the wish fulfillers, grateful for the touching experience.
Anni Martin's trip to the sea
The journey of Anni Martin, 76 years old and terminally ill with cancer, was similarly moving. Her last wish was a visit to the sea, which she happily fulfilled with her son Peter in Graal-Müritz. She was also accompanied by volunteers who not only enabled her to spend time on the beach, but also showed the necessary sensitivity to give the mother-son duo valuable moments to themselves.
Anni enjoyed her time by the sea to the fullest and for a moment no longer felt any pain. “It was wonderful and an experience that I will carry in my heart forever,” she reported after returning to the hospice. This fulfillment of your heart's desires shows how important it is to collect beautiful memories even in difficult times.
The wish car project
The ASB wish car was launched in 2014 to give people with unfulfilled wishes one last joy. In addition to the trips already mentioned, many other equally important last wishes, such as attending a wedding or seeing family members again, could come true. These fulfillments are often accompanied by organizational, health and financial hurdles, which make it necessary to act quickly and unbureaucratically.
There are now 23 wish cars available nationwide, which are operated by volunteers. The vehicles are specially equipped and offer a little comfort during the journey with panoramic windows and a music system. The trips are free for those affected and a companion, which makes this offer particularly valuable. Financing comes exclusively from donations from private individuals and companies, which underlines the high social relevance of the project.
The “Wünschewagen – Dare to Last Wishes” campaign not only has a high emotional value for those affected, but also offers their families the opportunity to create valuable memories and experience their last wish together. As Thomas and Anni experienced, it is often the simpler things that mean the most.
You can find out more about the moving stories of the wish cars at Moin.de as well as HNA and the background of the project in detail Good ideas.