Wish tree project grants resident her wedding dream

Staff from St Marks Court in Gateshead granted the wish of one of the residents by creating a wedding day scene inside the care home for her to attend.

Lily Dodds expressed her wish to witness a wedding ceremony through the home’s wish tree project, which allow residents to tell staff their dreams and have them come true.

Two care assistants took on the role of bride and groom for the mock wedding ceremony, with others transforming into the vicar and bridesmaids.

Nikki Coulson, manager at St Marks Court, said: “Everyone at St Marks Court really enjoyed Paul and Linda’s “big day”. It was fantastic to be able to make Lily’s wish come true and it was great that everyone at the home could get involved. Residents have made a wide range of wishes and we look forward to making other wonderful and exciting dreams come true.”

Following the ‘ceremony’ was a reception which took place in the care home’s lounge, where everyone could get involved and Ms Dodds posed for pictures with the ‘newlyweds.’

The wish tree project has fulfilled the wishes of many residents at St Marks Court, which cares for up to 60 residents and provides both nursing and dementia care.

Ms Dodds will now replace her original wish, written on a leaf of the tree, with a picture of the event and a blossom which describes how her dream was made a reality.

The care home hopes to continue making residents’ wishes come true throughout the project.