Ten-year-old Grace Savage’s dreams came true when she got to meet Winter the dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Tuesday.
- Fisherman who found Winter returns to CMA with niece
- Grace Savage, 10, has a chromosomal disorder
But she isn’t the first in her family to meet the dolphin. Her great-uncle, Jim Savage, was the fisherman who found Winter in 2005.
"Right when I got up to where the buoy was moving around, Winter just came up from the bottom with the trap totally wrapped all around her,” Jim Savage said.
Savage has visited Winter many times since that day, but Tuesday’s visit was the most emotional yet.
"Today is my day, today is my pay off day,” he said. “To have my niece get her wish, so it’s big for me today, it’s a game changer today."
Thanks to the Make a Wish Foundation, Grace and her family traveled from Oregon to meet Hope and Winter. Grace has a chromosomal disorder and has relied on Winter’s story to get her through tough times.
"She’s been talking about coming to Florida to meet Hope and Winter, especially Winter, for like half her life at least,” said Grace’s mom, Katie Savage.
Grace got to interact with the dolphins, petting them and helping them with tricks.
Afterwards, her uncle told her, “The next dolphin I find, I’ll bring to you.”