 Faced with a terminal diagnosis, Marvin Block had one final wish, and it was granted Saturday afternoon with several hundred people in attendance.
The Creighton man wanted to hear his favorite band, the Outback Band, one last time. "It was a surprise and it was pretty neat," said Brooke Borer, Executive Director of AseraCare in O’Neill. "He planned a party a long time ago, and it wasn't very well attended. He wanted another party, so that's what we did." With the help of AseraCare, Creighton Care Center and his wife, MaryAnne Block, they spent a short week planning the event and invited everyone in the community to give Marvin the biggest surprise they could. “He said what is this for? What is this for? And I said Marvin this is for you. Then Howard Grimm of Outback Band said Marvin we’re for you,” said MaryAnne Block. “He just couldn’t believe it he had to ask me several times because he was so surprised. Not because he wasn’t understanding but because he was so surprised. He likes to see people happy but normally doesn’t expect that for himself.” MaryAnne said Marvin loved to throw parties and see people happy, and this was his wife’s way of showing the impact he has made on so many people. “We had a lot of people here, probably 4 generations. (We) had a great time, a lot of laughter, lot of fun (and) dancing! It was a great time and he was so surprised,” she said. Borer said AseraCare and Creighton Care worked together with MaryAnne on both arrangements and costs. Granting final wishes is a key part of what hospice is all about, Borer said. "He wanted to hear this band one last time before he passes away," she said. "That's part of hospice. It's not always a time to take care of patients, but it's also to fill those final wishes. Events like the one for Marvin fills our hearts." News Partner News Channel Nebraska contributed. |
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