French charity makes terminally ill people's dreams come true

Seeing the Mona Lisa and having a tattoo are among the dreams fulfilled by a charity looking to bring joy to terminally ill adults.

Called l’Ambulance des Rêves, its co-founder Clara Brachet, 40, was inspired by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which does similar things for seriously ill children and for which she used to work.

It has made the dreams of 14 different patients come true since 2023. 

Among them is Fabienne, who had always been too scared to have a tattoo.

After getting a lotus inked, she said: “This day is tattooed on my arm but it will be forever etched in my heart.” 

Meanwhile, Karima was able to visit the Chateau de Versailles one last time with her four children and husband. Afterwards, her husband said: “It was a ray of sunshine during these difficult times that allowed us to forget, for a moment, the situation we are in. Being able to experience this moment as a family was unthinkable before.” 

'Very simple' dreams

Other dreams the association has fulfilled include swimming one last time and a private viewing of the Mona Lisa.

The association works by sending a binome (pairing) volunteer to meet the patient in palliative care and establish what their dream is. 

Doctors from the care unit and l’Ambulance des Rêves’ own medics then determine whether it is feasible.

If it is, the association organises an ambulance and a volunteer medical team to make the dream come true, as well as a logistical volunteer, who takes care of practical issues and of the family on the day.

“We find that people’s dreams at the end of their lives are often very simple and mostly involve spending a little time away from the hospital,” said Ms Brachet.

“For example, we helped a man spend his last Christmas surrounded by family. 

“It is also very important for the family. I remember a seven-year-old boy who will now have a memory of his father out in nature rather than just in the hospital.” 

The association started when Ms Brachet contacted Kees Veldboer, a Dutch ambulance driver who founded Stichting Ambulance Wens (Ambulance Wish Foundation), granting the wishes of terminally ill adult patients in the Netherlands. 

Mr Veldboer put her in contact with Maxime Boulou, who was working on a similar initiative, and the two joined forces to create l’Ambulance des Rêves. 

As Mr Boulou is a medical professional, he was able to bring medical personnel on board, while Ms Brachet brought along people she knew from Make-a-Wish France.

They first made contact in 2019 but their plans were delayed until September 2021 because of the pandemic.

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Legal problems

Legal obstacles meant it was a long process to launch the association.

For example, there are complicated rules around who can be put in an ambulance, using ambulance drivers in ambulances that you do not own is forbidden, and ambulance drivers must be paid for their work, she explained. 

Eventually, they were able to partner with the Hospital Jean-Jaures in Paris to fulfil the dreams of advanced terminally ill patients within 150km of the capital. 

Ms Brachet cannot put her finger on a specific reason she felt compelled to start the association, but says: “What we do is very positive and it is an incredible experience to be a part of. 

“The snowball effect of people helping and getting other people to help is also very uplifting to see.”

The association is now made up of around 20 people and hopes to extend its reach to the rest of France. 

It is entirely financed by private donations. Find out more at: ambulancedesreves.org.

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