Nurse's daughter asked patients for 'any 3 things' they want — their answers left her stunned
'I bought Bea a single Little Debbie strawberry cake because it's her favorite. I bought Mary two bananas because she's crazy for bananas.'
Our elderly spend their lifetime getting us the things and life we dream of. Whether it's a toy, college fees or anything else, they go above and beyond to fulfill our wishes. Unfortunately, no one asks what’s on their mind when roles are switched. Then-11-year-old Ruby Chitsey took up the initiative for the residents in an Arkansas home, reported CBS News.
Her mom, Amanda, works as a nurse in the home and would get her daughter to tag along. She started bringing a notepad to ask seniors, “If you could have any 3 things, what would they be?” and to her surprise, she realized they were not asking for the impossible. Just some basics. So, Chitsey took it upon herself to start delivering their wishes.
According to their GoFundMe, it all began when the then-little girl was at home with her mom and spotted a resident, Pearl, staring out the door. Ruby hadn’t seen anything exciting throughout that day and, intrigued to see what she was fixated on, the little girl went over.
She saw the woman looking at a dog. The visual seemed pretty mundane, so she asked her why she was so interested. That’s when Pearl mentioned that the canine was her pet, who had come to visit her. She was intently gazing at him because she had no idea when she would get to see her furry baby again.
“I thought of all the things in this world Pearl could have, she would probably just ask for more visits with her dog,” Ruby remarked. She did the math. “I know it costs $12 for a pet sitter/visit. I’m eleven, and I have enough money saved in my piggy bank to get Pearl a few visits with her dog,” she added. That’s when an idea struck.
Amanda mentioned that her 11-year-old didn’t have much in mind when she spoke with the residents. She was ideally just interactive and curious. She thought they’d have some fancy or rich things to ask for. To her surprise, these elderly people, like Pearl, just had simple wishes that stemmed from their will to live a life that belonged to them.
When people cited items like a new razor, food items, and so on, she was stoked to become someone who could provide them. In the clip shared by the outlet, a few other wishes included simple things — clothes that fit, new shoes, pet visits, and so on. She started the “3 wishes” project, where she is determined to help these residents get what they want to make them happy.
Eight years later, she’s still very passionate about it. The young woman and her team have raised over $500,000 for citizens across aged homes across the globe. They have helped grant over 100,000 wishes.
Ruby recalled that out of all expenses, residents usually get $40 for “extras.” This refers to anything like a haircut, a new shirt, and so on. However, for Ruby, they’re not extras; they’re the things that add to the flavor of life. “These extras are the things that make life sweeter,” she said.
It might look like she’s getting a simple McDonald’s meal, being granted a phone call, or even being taken for a park visit, but to each of the residents, it is a wish fulfilled, a memory made, and a heart filled. In an update, Ruby mentioned how every single donation mattered. Sharing how one man gave $3, she revealed that she bought warmth, love, and so much more with it.
“I bought Bea a single Little Debbie strawberry cake because it's her favorite. I bought Mary two bananas because she's crazy for bananas. Lastly, I bought a small, plastic jar of cat treats for Steve because he LOVES cats and he uses these to lure the facility's cat into this room at night,” she said. Everyone pouring their little is going a long way. But the greatest thing that she did was being thoughtful enough to ask.
According to the American Health Care Association, there are around 1016,400 American elderly across the country in assisted living. A majority (53%) accounts for persons who are 85 years and above.
A 2024 study revealed that to people in assisted living facilities, their relationships with loved ones are what’s most important to them. While a majority mentioned they felt at home with the provisions and freedom in their systems, a few reported issues.
Some reported feeling lonely, while others pointed out not having the simplest things, like food choices. When you picture it like that, wanting fries or to see your dog means a lot more; it makes you feel alive. And Ruby helped them feel alive. Douglas Kilman wrote, “Angels don't always wear wings!” Adriana Livingroom added, “Who needs a Lamborghini when you have a Ruby!”
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