Simple wish to go out for pizza granted to Lexington senior with multiple sclerosis

Usually when a wish is granted to someone who is critically ill, it involves meeting a celebrity or sports hero, going on an extravagant vacation or being given a shopping spree.

Judith Webb of Lexington had a much simpler wish that humbled those who heard about it and drove them to be sure it was granted. The local woman who has been a participant at Carolina SeniorCare for more than five years and has limited mobility due to multiple sclerosis just wanted to go to Christo's for pizza where she used to go weekly with her husband when her health was better.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, Webb spends her time at the PACE program’s Day Center.

“The only time I get to go out is when the van picks me up,” she said. Multiple Sclerosis has slowly sapped her ability to navigate her environment without either assistance or transportation that supports a wheelchair. Last year, Webb fell and fractured her hip, which further complicates her ability to stand.

For the past five years, she has only gone outside of her home twice a week and then only to the Day Center.

Tonya Branham, the transportation supervisor at CSC, asked Webb if there was something she could enjoy again, what would it be. When she was younger, Webb and her husband, James, would share a weekly meal at Christo’s Restaurant in Lexington.

“I would love to go out and have lunch at Christo’s and go to Belk to pick out two to three outfits,” she shared.

Imagine having the ability to walk, enjoy the community and do the things you love be taken away from you because of an illness. This is the challenge of Webb's story.

At one time, she was able to physically move, to drive in a car and to go places with her husband, who is also wheelchair-bound.

“My MS took that away from me,” she said.

The only visitor Webb sees regularly is her universal care aide, Lisa Shaw. Her daughter and two grandchildren have begun to make regular visits as well. With Webb’s wish in mind, the CSC team wanted to surprise her for her birthday on Jan. 31 with a lunch at Christo’s and a shopping trip to Belk. This is where the Grant a Dream program came into focus.

On Jan. 28, the CSC team and Kim Kilday, chief marketing officer for EveryAge, surprised Webb with the announcement that she would have her dream granted.

“I just love you all," Webb said through tears. "This means so much to me.”

What most of us take for granted may be a huge gift to someone else. The Grant a Dream program focuses on renewing and celebrating a passion while creating joy within the hearts of our seniors. The core of this program is to grant basic dreams for residents, participants and tenants at all EveryAge communities.

“What we learn from Judith’s experience is that the tasks we easily do independently can disappear because of an illness or condition and that we shouldn’t take our abilities lightly. Grant a Dream helps our participants to have that happy experience once again,” said Kilday.

For more information about Carolina SeniorCare and PACE services, visit www.carolinaseniorcare.org/. To learn about EveryAge and the Grant a Dream program, visit www.everyage.org.

Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Lexington woman with multiple sclerosis granted simple wish to dine at local restaurant