Make-A-Wish dream comes true for 6-year-old on Thanksgiving

A Southwest Florida family is getting their spirits lifted thanks to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Osman Rivera Herrera, 6, lost his mother in late August in a car crash, and the foundation is doing what they can to warm their hearts this Thanksgiving.

There was turkey, mashed potatoes, pie, and a very special trip planned for six-year-old Osman and his family – all thanks to Make-A-Wish.

Carlos and Jaime Gomez are volunteers and this is their first wish granted.

“We try and help bilingual families because I’m bilingual and there’s a long waitlist for families like this to get assistance, because of the language barrier,” Carlos Gomez said. “And we’re happy to be able to do this.”

Osman and his family will enjoy an entire week, all-expense-paid trip to Disney World.

Something positive after losing a key part of their family.

Osman’s mother, Edith, was killed in a hit-and-run car crash in September.

Investigators later arrested a suspect, John Armstrong.

Josselin Calderon met the family at Valerie’s House, a nonprofit, and connected with them right away, “They deserve (the trip) they really deserve what’s happening to them.”

Josselin lost her mother four years ago and remembers how she felt when she first entered Valerie’s House.

“Lost and confused and scared but now they find us and we are able to help them,” Calderon said. “I’m so glad I found them and I’m able to return the favor … I consider them like my family now.”

Calderon and Gomez both hope to remain close to the family for a long time.

Osman and his family leave for their Disney trip on December 23, spending all of Christmas week at the park.