Joyful Moments: Creating Meaningful Memories
Every moment matters. Help us create more of them.
When a patient is living with a serious or life-limiting illness, there are still moments to celebrate, dreams to fulfill, and memories waiting to be made.
The Lightways Joyful Moments Program helps make those moments possible.
Through the generosity of donors and community partners, Joyful Moments provides patients and families with opportunities to experience something meaningful, joyful, or memorable during an incredibly difficult time. Whether it is a special celebration, a meaningful outing, a personal dream, or an experience shared with loved ones, these moments can bring comfort, connection, and joy.
Creating Moments That Matter
A Joyful Moment is more than an event or an experience. It is an opportunity for patients and families to focus on living, loving, and making memories together.
Our team works with patients and families to understand what would bring them joy and then helps make that wish possible. Each experience is unique because each patient and family is unique.
Joyful Moments may include:
- Celebrating a birthday or milestone
- Creating a special family gathering
- Attending an important event or activity
- Fulfilling a personal wish or dream
- Experiencing something a patient has always wanted to do
- Providing an opportunity for family members to celebrate and connect
The Power of a Joyful Moment
For families facing serious illness, time together becomes especially precious. A Joyful Moment can provide a welcome break from appointments, treatments, and the challenges of illness.
It can create a smile.
It can bring a family together.
It can turn an ordinary day into a cherished memory.
And sometimes, it can become part of a family’s story that they carry with them for years to come. Please take the time to read these stories of impact that our Joyful Moments Program has provided to patients and families.
Iliana’s Joyful Moment
For Iliana, her Joyful Moment was a celebration surrounded by the people she loved. With the support of her Lightways team, she was able to create a special memory that reflected who she was and what mattered most to her.
At 17 years old, Iliana had faced an incredibly difficult journey living with pulmonary hypertension following a heart and double lung transplant. Through it all, she carried an attitude of hope that inspired not only her family but her Lightways care team, and together, they created beautiful and lasting memories.
One of those memories was a special Quinceañera put together by her family and the Lightways Joyful Moments volunteers. During the celebration, Iliana was surrounded by her loved ones, dressed in a stunning princess gown inspired by Princess Belle. Iliana truly embodied grace, strength, and joy.
One of the most powerful moments of the evening was watching Iliana greet each guest from her throne chair, smiling, animated, and fully present in every interaction. She was determined to make the most of her night and chose to stand and dance with her mom. In another deeply meaningful moment, she shared time on the dance floor with her dad, reconnecting in a way that made the evening even more special.
And yet, her story of creating precious memories doesn’t end there.
Iliana worked closely with our music therapist, Shira Simon, MM, MT-BC, to write and produce a beautiful legacy song and slideshow for her family. In this remarkably moving song, Iliana speaks words of comfort to her family, a true gift that they can cherish forever. Her memory lives on through this project that she worked hard to create, and it was her own courage, joy, and resilience that sparked the unforgettable collaboration.
Iliana’s story reminds us how meaningful it is to create moments of connection, love, and celebration, especially when they matter most.
Her celebration was more than a special day. It became a lasting memory for the people who loved her.
Creating Meaningful Memories Through Joyful Moments
When Lightways patient Edward shared that visiting the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago was at the top of his bucket list, our Volunteer Team immediately got to work. Within one week, they secured tickets and coordinated every detail needed to make his wish come true.
Their quick action made all the difference. Edward and his family were able to share an unforgettable experience together and create memories they will cherish forever.
Stories like Edward’s are a powerful reminder of the impact of our Joyful Moments program and the incredible volunteers who help make these experiences possible. Through their dedication and generosity, patients and families are able to enjoy moments of connection, joy, and love when they matter most.
Karmah’s Story
Karmah, one of our pediatric patients, had been unable to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine with her family due to sensitivity to the sun. To help bring some comfort and joy back into her days, our Joyful Moments program stepped in.
We purchased a large umbrella to shade most of their patio, along with a protective cover to keep it lasting. As soon as Karmah stepped outside, her mom shared that “her face lit up”—and it happened every single time she went out.
These are the moments that matter.
Lightways Joyful Moments creates meaningful, memory-making experiences for our patients—whether it’s revisiting a favorite place, reliving a cherished memory, or creating something entirely new.
The Duncan Family Joyful Moment
A simple wish can mean everything.
When one of our Social Workers introduced the Joyful Moments Program, the Duncan family shared a wish for family photos. With the help of a compassionate photographer, we were able to bring that wish to life!
Bentley is 10 and loves music, TV, and spending time with his family, including his little sister Joy. These photos were taken just before his special trip to Chicago, where he enjoyed a Bulls game, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Wonder Museum.
Moments like these become memories families can hold onto forever.
Interested in learning more or getting involved?
Your Gift Can Create a Joyful Moment
Joyful Moments are made possible because of generous donors who believe that quality of life matters at every stage of a serious illness.
Your donation can help a patient celebrate a milestone, create a meaningful memory, spend special time with family, or experience something that brings them joy.
Your gift helps us say “yes” when a patient shares something they would love to do.
Give the Gift of Joy
A donation to the Joyful Moments Program is an investment in moments that matter.
Your generosity can help create:
A moment of joy.
A moment of connection.
A moment of celebration.
A moment a family will remember.
Help Create More Joyful Moments
Every patient deserves the opportunity to experience moments of meaning and joy, regardless of where they are in their illness journey.
Make a donation today and help Lightways create a Joyful Moment for a patient and family in our community.