Carrying dreams aloft
Published 7:00 pm Wednesday, September 25, 2024
A hot air balloon begins to expand as air is pumped into it Wednesday afternoon outside of the Our House Senior LIving. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The balloon that would carry Carole Dunfee and Dan Enfield, along with Our House Vice President of Operations Amy Staads into the afternoon sky Wednesday is fully stood as it prepares for lift off.. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A balloon is inflated Wednesday afternoon prior to giving Our House Senior Living residents Carole Dunfee and Dan Enfield along with Our House Vice President of Operations Amy Staads. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Our House resident Dan Enfield helps fellow resident Carole Dunfee into a balloon that would carry them aloft Wednesday afternoon. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Carole Dunfee waves as the balloon carrying her, Dan Enfield and Our House Vice President of Operations for Our House Senior Living, Amy Staads lifts off Wednesday afternoon. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The balloon carrying Carole Dunfee and Dan Enfield, along with Our House Vice President of Operations Amy Staads, climbs into the afternoon sky above Austin Wednesday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The balloon carrying Carole Dunfee and Dan Enfield, along with Our House Vice President of Operations Amy Staads, climbs into the afternoon sky above Austin Wednesday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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Carole Dunfee and Dan Enfeld get once in a life time opportunity through Our House Senior Living program
Our House Senior Living residents Carole Dunfee and Dan Enfield were all smiles as they waved to the ground from their ride.
The hot air balloon they were riding in swiftly rose into the late Wednesday afternoon sky, promising a once-in-a-life time experience that was also a dream come true for Dunfee.
“My dream has always been to go up in a hot air balloon since I was a kid,” she said prior to the trip. “I’m so excited I can’t stand it.”
However, the trip also provided her the opportunity to fulfill a promise from her late husband, Bob Dunfee, that one day they would experience this dream together.
With her were some of Bob’s ashes that Dunfee would spread out during the four-mile trip they were taking along with Our House Vice President of Operations Amy Staads.
“He said that someday we would go in a hot air balloon and we’ll go together,” she said. “I’m very excited and happy.”
It wasn’t an easy journey to get to this point, though. Originally planned for the spring, the trip was postponed throughout the summer because of weather conditions that wouldn’t allow for a flight.
“We’re looking forward to this,” said Ariel Reed, Life Enrichment coordinator for Our House in Austin. “This has been canceled multiple times.”
She added that to see Dunfee and Enfield finally get this opportunity was amazing for those watching from the ground as the balloon drifted south.
“This is so cool,” Reed said. “You can see the goosebumps. This is a once in a lifetime thing.”
While Wednesday’s journey across Austin’s treetops was a dream in the making for Dunfee, it was also part of a larger project by Our House to provide opportunities to its residents that they might not otherwise get a chance to do.
Through “legacy videos,” residents get to explain their bucket list items to staff who create the video. Then a resident is chosen and the item is given life.
It’s the facility’s opportunity to tell stories of those living at Our House.
“We are telling the stories of their lives and leaving behind a legacy,” said Amanda Mackay, apartment director and LPN. “I just think (the videos) are so cool. This isn’t just a facility. We’re taking care of people.”
At the same time, Mackay said that those who take part in these videos and by extension the opportunities that follow, are leading by example and taking life by the reins.
“They are inspiring younger generations,” Mackay said.
