makeawishsfla's video: Zuri s wish to go to the Florida Keys - Make-A-Wish Southern Florida

Because she is living with cystic fibrosis, 4-year-old Zuri has had many hospitalizations, injections and blood draws. Her wish to go to the Florida Keys was a much-needed opportunity to focus on just being a kid. A water lover, Zuri loves to swim and has always imagined what it would be like to pet a dolphin. Her father said, “Just the fact that Make-A-Wish was able to provide this for her and us, it’s just indescribable. This trip means the world to us.” Zuri and her family stayed at Tranquility Bay Resort in Marathon, which set the tone for the duration of the trip. Her medical worries seemed to wash away as she focused on fun and relaxation. Besides spending time at the beach and the pool, Zuri had plenty of extra fun in the sun including the chance to get up close and personal with dolphins at Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder. She and her family took a glass bottom boat ride aboard the Key Largo Princess. Certainly, one of the highlights was a unique experience. Zuri and her brother painted with a sea lion at Theater of the Sea. The kids chose paint colors for Bella the sea lion to use while creating the masterpieces. There was time to play fetch and pose for photos together too. “I am overjoyed and overwhelmed just seeing how much fun Zuri and her brother are having. She deserves this and more. We’re not used to being this happy for this long. We’re going to have these memories forever,” her father said. Wish Granters: Jessy Balbuena & Fran Garfunkel Referred by Jessica Marmanillo, her nurse practitioner Wish adopted by Mr. Tim Barhite & Mrs. Andrea Giraldo