Three Wishes project brings comfort and closure to families and nurses at AdventHealth Littleton

A program at AdventHealth Littleton offers comfort and support to dying patients in the ICU. The project, called Three Wishes, gives the patients and their families something tangible during a difficult time while also helping them process their emotions. The project has come to life thanks to the hard work of ICU nurses Carmel Benavides, RN, Lauren Gano, RN, and Grace Pippin, RN, with funding support from the AdventHealth Littleton Foundation.

“Three Wishes is an evidence-based practice project that allows staff to give the patient and their family three wishes at the end of life, to help the process become more personal,” said Carmel.

Patients who are transitioning to comfort care are encouraged to choose three items from a predetermined list. The wishes are meant to dignify their death and celebrate their life. Some of the common wishes include capturing the patient’s heartbeat via doppler or by printing out an EKG, collecting a lock of their hair or a fingerprint, and allowing a loved one to lie in bed with a patient.

"A lot of times, family members aren't able to think of anything that would be helpful at the end of life, because they're so overwhelmed losing a loved one,” said Lauren. “This list gives them a starting point so they have something to go home with, that they may not have had otherwise.”

“One of my favorite wishes are our cloth hearts. One is pinned to the patient and stays with them, while the other is given to the family. I think it gives people a lot to hold on to as they leave,” said Grace.

The team is also always happy to facilitate other wishes that patients or their families come up with on their own.

“A younger man who was dying asked if he and his wife could open a bottle of champagne they had saved for a future anniversary, knowing they would no longer be able to share that together,” said Lauren. “We were thrilled the hospital was able to help us facilitate that.”

Since the project launched in July 2024, the ICU has been able to fulfill at least 30 wishes.

“The response we’ve had from family members has been overwhelmingly positive. They are always so grateful and thankful,” said Carmel. “So many times we tell family that we want to make their loved one as comfortable as possible, and most families assume that means just giving them medication. Three wishes helps families realize we take their loved one’s passing very seriously, and that we really do care.”

While the program has had a powerful impact on families, it has had an even greater impact on the nursing staff. Three Wishes is helping reduce nurse burnout by allowing team members to connect with their patients in a meaningful way and is also providing them a way to cope with the loss of a patient.

“I remember as a new nurse, losing my first patient, and not knowing how to handle it. You want to be there for the family, but often, you don’t know how,” said Lauren. “I think Three Wishes makes it all easier to process.”

“In my first three months as a nurse in the ICU, I had seen more deaths than in my entire nursing career and it was very difficult for me. That’s why I love this project, because it allows us to make the ICU feel less sterile and even more loving,” said Carmel.

“I joined the ICU as a new grad last year, and death can often be very sudden, which makes it even harder,” said Grace. “Three Wishes has made my transition into nursing much smoother, because I feel like I get to help people on what can often be the worst day of their life.”

Lauren, Carmel, and Grace have big plans for the project. They recently expanded Three Wishes to the entire hospital, so that every nurse, patient, and family member who experiences a loss at AdventHealth Littleton gets to experience the same comfort and closure.