For as long as Westmoreland Manor workers can remember, Felicia Moore, a 65-year-old resident at the county care facility, has listened to Brooks & Dunn every day.
Moore will get to listen to the duo live instead of just from the speaker of her computer tablet because of a wish granted Tuesday by the Twilight Wish Foundation Westmoreland County chapter.
The nonprofit organization grants wishes to people who are 65 years or older or permanent residents of nursing homes.
About 30 staff members from the Hempfield facility — which provides short-term recovery and long-term skilled nursing care — gathered in the Manor’s chapel to watch Moore receive tickets to the Brooks & Dunn concert June 5 at Acrisure Stadium.
Moore, clad in a Brooks & Dunn T-shirt and baseball cap embroidered with a pink cowboy boot, was wheeled into the chapel and a surprised look washed over her face as she found out about the upcoming concert. After the initial shock wore off, Moore couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight,” she said.
She offered a performance of her favorite song from the country singers, “Believe.” She sang every word from memory, belting out notes with the artists. Some of the employees put their hands in the air and sang along.
Moore listens to the song multiple times a day and has a pin with the word “believe” attached to her hat.
Jamie Bostard, chapter director of the Twilight Wish Foundation, said she volunteers with the nonprofit organization because of moments like Tuesday’s event.
She couldn’t wait to give Moore the tickets and was almost driven to tears after seeing her smile.
“There is nothing better than making someone’s day,” Bostard said. “She made my day.”
‘She deserves it’
Manor workers who came to watch Moore receive the tickets were overcome with emotion and some began to cry.
Carol Marol, a licensed practical nurse at the Manor who has been working with Moore since her arrival in 2016, shed tears as she saw the elated look on her face. She will be accompanying Moore to the concert.
“She’s got a big heart,” Marol said with tears in her eyes. “She deserves it.”
The surprise has been in the works for months.
Dan Harmening, a social worker for the Manor, applied for Moore to receive the tickets as a surprise after hearing her sing the country songs every day and knowing the walls of her room are decorated with pictures of the duo.
Harmening’s wife bought Moore a miniature pink cowboy hat clip to wear the night of the concert. He said Moore will be getting her hair done, and employees will make her a poster she can hold up at the concert.
He said Moore never receives Christmas or birthday gifts unless it is from the employees at the Manor, so “if anyone deserves it, it’s her.”
“She doesn’t have a family,” Harmening said, choked up from tears. “We are her family.”