At Arbor Terrace Burnt Hickory, we believe life is an ongoing adventure, no matter your age. For resident Gerda McCoy, that spirit of adventure recently led her to complete her lifelong dream of visiting all 50 states.
Her journey began decades ago, traveling alongside her late husband as they visited 49 states together. The final stop—Rhode Island—remained unfinished when he entered the final stages of life. Later, Gerda began planning the trip with her daughter as a way to celebrate her daughter’s victory over cancer. But plans came to a halt when the disease returned suddenly and aggressively, and within months, Gerda’s daughter passed away.
That’s what made finally reaching Rhode Island such a meaningful and emotional milestone for Gerda. With the help of the Arbor Dreams program, her community family, and generous partners, her unfinished dream was finally completed.
Taja Thomas, Arbor Terrace Burnt Hickory, traveled with Gerda, while Dori Laack, Community Sales Director at Arbor Terrace Crabapple, made the connections that helped bring the dream to life. A daughter of another Arbor Terrace resident kindly donated buddy passes so Gerda and her travel companion could fly to Rhode Island. Once there, community partners made the experience unforgettable: Tom Riel of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau arranged accommodations at Courtyard Providence Downtown and tickets to the RISD Museum courtesy of GoProvidence; Kristin McGinn, owner of the Providence River Boat Company, donated a riverboat tour; Hemenway’s provided a special meal; and Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore welcomed Gerda with a personal tour of the State House.
Gerda’s journey is a story of love, loss, resilience, and hope—a reminder that even after heartbreak, dreams can come true with the support of caring people.
