When Roy “Sid” Trexler walked into the Life Enrichment office at Cedarhurst of Waterloo, he carried a dream with him. “My name is Sid,” he said, “and I was born in 1925. My dream is to go to the moon.”
At Cedarhurst Senior Living, Living TRUE is about personalizing life for residents in meaningful, magical ways — and Sid’s request was the perfect opportunity to bring that philosophy to life.
For Life Enrichment Director Meredith Hooten, the moment was unforgettable. “My heart melted,” she recalled. “I didn’t know how I was going to make it happen, but I knew I had to find a way.”
What followed was nothing short of magic. Meredith set out to create an immersive lunar adventure, transforming Cedarhurst’s activity room into a space capsule.
Blackout curtains covered the windows. A projector cast glowing stars and a swirling moon across the ceiling. A YouTube documentary on Neil Armstrong’s historic landing added atmosphere. And when a team member brought in a virtual reality headset, Sid was suddenly standing on the moon’s rocky surface, turning his head side to side in awe.
“It was amazing to watch,” Meredith said. “Everyone kept asking him, ‘Can you see the moon?’ and he’d answer, ‘I’m not sure.’ It was the sweetest thing.”
No detail was overlooked. To fuel the journey, Meredith served themed treats: Sun Chips, Sunkist floats, Milky Ways, and Snickers. Sid’s son Clyde joined in the fun, laughing alongside his father as he tried the VR headset. “He kept asking me what I was seeing,” Sid said with a grin. “I wasn’t sure, but it was weird and interesting. To read about the moon and then see it like that — it was different!”
For Meredith, the project was more than a themed event. It reflected what Living TRUE means to her role. “Big or small, I want to make our residents’ dreams come true,” she said. “These residents are family. They deserve the best, and I treat them like I’d want my own grandparents to be treated. If I can bring them happiness, that’s my purpose.”
For Sid, the experience was unforgettable. “It was amazing,” he said simply. “You’re never too old to dream.”
His reflections carry the weight of a century of life. Sid has lived through war, raised a family with his late wife Evelyn, and now finds comfort and community at Cedarhurst of Waterloo. “You can’t imagine when you’re 25 years old, seeing the things I’ve seen in the war and then coming here to live with my sweet wife in her last years,” he said.
“Cedarhurst has been a blessing. Everyone treats me good — like part of the family.”
He is also quick to count his blessings. His two sons, Garry, a retired Air Force general, and Clyde, who lives nearby, remain close companions. “I’m blessed,” Sid said. “I couldn’t ask for more.”
In the end, Sid’s journey wasn’t about reaching the actual moon. It was about showing that no dream is too far-fetched, and no milestone too late, for joy and wonder.
As Meredith put it, “The sky’s the limit — whether big or small. If I can make it happen, I want to do it. That’s what Living TRUE is all about.”
This story will appear in the Fall 2025 issue of Flourish® magazine.
Ryan Davis is the Corporate Communications Manager at Cedarhurst Senior Living and the writer behind every story in Flourish® magazine. He holds a Communications degree from Indiana University and brings 19 years of experience to his role, which he began in January 2024. Ryan is passionate about storytelling, especially sharing the meaningful lives of Cedarhurst residents, families, and staff. He hopes each published story becomes a treasured legacy for loved ones.