博文--SabrinaQi

In 2017 I graduated from a medical school and started to train the seniors for recovery as a therapist in the Brookdale Lake Senior Living Center where I met Hoffner, who had lived there for roughly the past decade, for the first time.

Hoffner, a lady of 104 years old now, grew up in Chicago and worked as a telephone operator for Bell Company for more than four decades. She never married or had children, but she enjoyed beach vacations and driving her small blue car touring all over the country.

She loved sports and was kind to everyone she met. She watched every Chicago Cubs game on a TV in her room and also enjoyed watching “MASH” runs. She stayed active, walking several blocks to the grocery store multiple times a week and going on walks to have a look at the neighbor's dogs. She was known for carrying candies——Heath bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and dark chocolate—in her walker. She shared her candies with everyone she met, but she always kept some for me.

I remembered that afternoon I and one of my patients were figuring out when the meal was served when Hoffner invited us to eat supper with her in the dining area. Since then, we three at dinner together almost every night and Hoffner started calling me grandson.

One night two months ago, I carelessly told Hoffner over dinner that I was going skydiving in Ottawa. When Hoffner said she wanted to go, too, I thought she meant as an observer. “No, no, no, I want to jump out of a plane,” Hoffner said. My heart sank because I knew clearly what it meant to jump from an airplane at about 13,500 feet high. It might injure her.

But she made up her mind and started to do everything to prepare for it. She went to the doctor to have a check and asked me to make a training plan. With her walker she kept training every day.

Seeing her determination and efforts, I was deeply moved and decided to help her achieve this dream. I planned a specific training plan that included strength exercises and balance exercises, which were important for skydiving. I was amazed by her resilience and positive attitude towards life. Despite her age, Hoffner remained enthusiastic about every training session. She seldom complained and always showed up with a smile on her face. Seeing her working hard, it further strengthened my belief that age was just a number and it was never too late to pursue your dreams.

Finally, the day arrived. As a therapist, I was worried about her health and safety, but seeing the excitement and joy on her face, all my worries vanished. With the guidance of a professional instructor, Hoffner successfully completed her skydiving journey. She was overwhelmed with joy and couldn't help but laugh. Witnessing her floating in the sky, I felt incredibly proud and touched. It reminded me why I chose this profession in the first place. Helping people to live their best lives, no matter their age or condition was what being a therapist was all about. Hoffner's adventure not only brought her happiness but also inspired many seniors in the center to live their lives to the fullest.

到她的决心和努力，我深受感动，决定帮助她实现这个梦想。我计划了一个具体的训练计划，包括力量练习和平衡练习，这对跳伞很重要。我对她的坚韧和积极的生活态度感到惊讶。尽管年事已高，霍夫纳仍然对每一次训练充满热情。她很少抱怨，总是面带微笑地出现。看到她努力工作，我更加坚信年龄只是一个数字，追求梦想永远不会太迟。

终于，这一天到来了。作为一名治疗师，我担心她的健康和安全，但看到她脸上的兴奋和喜悦，我所有的担忧都烟消云散了。在专业教练的指导下，霍夫纳成功完成了她的跳伞之旅。她欣喜若狂，忍不住笑了起来。看着她漂浮在空中，我感到无比的骄傲和感动。这提醒了我当初为什么选择这个职业。帮助人们过上最好的生活，无论他们的年龄或状况如何，这就是成为治疗师的意义所在。霍夫纳的冒险不仅给她带来了快乐，也激励了中心的许多老年人尽情地生活。