Category: Stories

How a Team’s Humor, Friendship, and Resilience Create More Than Just Competition In the Spark Performance League world, few teams embody the spirit of camaraderie and determination quite like the Sugar Loafers. Based in Winona, Minnesota, the team is more than just a group of competitors; they are a family bound by laughter, perseverance, and […]

The Hamilton Hustlers of Hamilton House are more than just a team. They are a well-oiled machine, an engine of pure grit and determination, driven by numbers, strategy, and an unbreakable team spirit. For them, success isn’t accidental—it’s calculated. Every event is dissected, every practice purposeful, and every move intentional. While some teams play the […]

Vern’s Challenges At 80-years old, Vern was hospitalized for chest pain. He also suffered from mild dementia and hearing loss. He was told he would most likely lose his independence and never live on his own again. All he wanted was to go home and ride his lawn mower. Thankfully, Vern and his family turned […]

Mavis’s dad died when she was seven leaving finances for her family extremely tight. Money was used for food and necessities, so riding carousels was a rare luxury. That was 84 years ago. Until Mavis became a Lifespark client, she never thought she’d feel that joyous feeling of riding a carousel again. While visiting Mavis, her […]

Elaine Weise is the quintessential hostess. She had been attending luncheons for years with her church friends, and has always loved the energy and attention to detail that hostessing required. After Elaine moved to Brightondale, a SilverCrest property, she longed for the friendships she had formed and the socials she attended at her church. Not seeing […]

Edith Grossman loves to socialize and get pampered. “My mother has exquisite taste and an eye for good design,” said Jane Jenni, Edith’s daughter. According to Jenni, Edith had a weekly hair and manicure appointment as far back as she could remember. Evenings were often spent socializing at Oak Ridge Country Club. “And she especially loved […]

Gary Schmidt hadn’t been to a Green Bay Packer’s game since he went in high school with his father. That was nearly 50 years ago when life was good, simple, and full of possibility. Now, Gary is 67 and has advanced Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and the disease is rapidly progressing to a point where he is […]

At age 87, Genevieve Shuster wanted to swim. According to her Lifespark Life Care Manager (LCM), a registered nurse, swimming was all she talked about. Growing up, Genevieve was a tom-boy who led a very active lifestyle. She was athletic and felt that working hard and staying fit were synonymous with being healthy. Physical limits though […]

Harriet Mundale, a Lifespark client, was searching for something. Her brilliant, beautiful smile was often followed by tears as she remembered sad times and the loss of family and friends. Harriet was withdrawn, preferred to be isolated from others, and according to her Life Care Manager (LCM), a registered nurse, didn’t seem to enjoy group activities […]

At 96, Marcus Woell received the gift he’s always wished for: tickets to see the Minnesota Orchestra. For his birthday, Marcus’s Lifespark Life Care Manager (LCM), a registered nurse, gave him a birthday card with a note for him to choose a symphony to attend. Marcus, a devoted classical music lover, sat stunned, staring at the […]