Advocacy Group Pays Airfare So Long Island Woman Can Meet Granddaughter In Florida
SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island grandmother couldn't afford the airfare to see her newborn granddaughter, but a local company stepped in to make her dream come true.
As TV 10/55 Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported Friday, Theresa Lamb, 74, of Smithtown, Suffolk County, put her glasses on to look at pictures of the first girl born in her family – her granddaughter, Katie.
Lamb has no computer or cellphone. When her son's wife gave birth to Katie, in Florida, she had no way of seeing the adorable newborn's photos.
But now, she will be able to hug her granddaughter for the first time in person, because her airplane ticket to Fort Lauderdale has been paid for.
"I can't believe it," Lamb said. "I've never won a thing in my life – not a lottery ticket, nothing in my whole life."
Lamb's trip to see her granddaughter all came about because of a local organization that makes seniors' dreams come true.
Lamb wrote a letter to the local planning firm behind "Senior Dreams Come True," and when they learned about how Lamb helps care for other seniors at her Smithtown retirement complex, they immediately stepped in to help.
"She's fantastic. I'm so excited," said Melissa Negrin-Wiener of the firm Genser, Dubow, Genser and Cona elder law firm. "I'm going to meet her at the airport tomorrow to see her off at the gate."
Lamb already has her bags packed, and she has been on something of a shopping spree for her soon-to-be-spoiled granddaughter.
"They live near the beach, so a little sunhat, sundresses, little sandals, little sunglasses," Lamb said.
Lamb said she is now looking forward to some serious babysitting.
"If my daughter-in-law wants to go have her nails done, her toes done, or if (my son) wants to have a beer from the refrigerator – let them just relax and I'll watch the baby," he said.
Lamb's son wants her to move to Florida. Lamb said who knows – she just might not be able to leave her granddaughter's side.
