A Dinner to Remember

Sometimes, what matters most isn’t complicated.

For Tommy Evans, it was a simple wish he shared again and again with his caregiver: One more dinner out with his wife at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino buffet in Tulsa, OK.

Tommy, a hospice patient with Compassus in Tulsa, had been bedbound for several months. Still, he never stopped talking about what he hoped for—sitting beside his wife, enjoying shrimp and chocolate cake, and sharing a meal together outside the walls of home.

When Tommy’s CNA, Jody England, heard this wish during her visits, she brought it forward to the care team. What followed was a remarkable example of what can happen when compassion, teamwork and heart lead the way.

With coordination from the Compassus team and the generous support of community partners such as local TV station FOX 23, Tommy’s wish became a reality. Donated transportation from Entrusted Transport, careful coordination and thoughtful preparation made it possible to safely transfer Tommy and bring him to dinner alongside his wife and members of his care team.

When Tommy arrived at the buffet, his joy was unmistakable. He was ready for exactly what he’d been dreaming of: Shrimp, chocolate cake and time with the people who mattered most. Laughter, conversation and connection filled the evening. Before heading home, Tommy even made sure to take extra shrimp with him to enjoy later.

It wasn’t a grand gesture. It was a deeply human one.

Moments like these reflect the heart of Compassus—honoring each person for who they are, listening to what matters to them, and walking alongside families to help create meaning, comfort and dignity in every season of care.