Patient Takes the Ride of Her Life

Crossroads patient, Claire Mowry, had sailed a catamaran, drove on a Harley and traveled to distant lands. One by one, year after year, Claire crossed things off of her bucket list, vowing to knock off every single adventure on her register.

There was just one left: a helicopter ride.

Still spunky by nature but hindered by illness, the 84-year-old Claire had accepted that she was never going to complete her list of life to-do’s. Her Crossroads team, however, did not. So, determined to find a way to take their adventurous patient for a whirlybird ride, Crossroads started making some calls.

Even though she enjoyed working near these compassionate women-in-white, Myrtle always felt slightly unsatisfied. Deeply caring and selfless to a fault, Myrtle was a natural fit for nursing but life got in the way of pursuing her dream…until one very special day.

Mission accomplished! Claire and her granddaughter were set to take a high-flying ride over their town in a helicopter from New Century Airport in Gardner, Kansas. When surprised with the news, Claire could hardly believe it and kept saying “how did you make it happen?” But before she could say another word, the ladies boarded and took flight.

The ladies soared high above their town, their houses, parks and streams – flying for nearly 30 minutes in an endless, crystal-blue sky. Claire looked down with amazement and was speechless – not just about the exciting ride, but at the fact that she did it. She completed every single adventure on her life’s bucket list. It filled her with peace.

Claire would often say, “learn something new every single day and you’ll have no regrets.” When she eventually landed, surrounded by her loved ones, her heart was still floating in the clouds – light with the contentment of having lived life to its fullest.