COVID-19 may have put a halt to group gatherings, but that wasn’t going to deter the Hospice of Cincinnati team from granting patient William Stroup, Jr., his wish to enjoy a horse race.

As part of Hospice of Cincinnati’s “Lasting Wish” program, social worker Karen Hipsher looked for ways to get William to an actual racetrack, but she hit a wall: due to COVID-19, no racetracks were open to spectators.

Undeterred, the team decided to bring “A Day at the Races” to William. This included room decorations, a Kentucky Derby t-shirt, a 2020 Derby glass compete with a non-alcoholic Mint Julep and inflatable stick horses. He also was given horse-racing DVDs to watch in his room.

Adding to the atmosphere, Cincinnati Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship brought therapeutic mini-horses Graham Cracker and Mocha to pay a window visit.

With “Lasting Wish,” Hospice of Cincinnati employees can submit suggestions for granting a patient’s wish or creating a lasting memory for the patient. Victoria Morse, RN, and Holistic Care team member Sarah Hellman assisted in getting the wish fulfilled.