Make-A-Wish family surprised with 2nd trip to Surf City, turtle release

SURF CITY, NC (WWAY) — Thirteen turtles are finally back at home in the ocean after being released from the turtle hospital today and a Make-A-Wish family we told you about two years ago got to be a part of it.

Despite cloudy skies and rain, the Wilmington Avenue beach access in Surf City was packed with hundreds of people this morning. Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue Director Jean Beasley and hundreds watched as 13 once injured turtles finally got to return home to sea.

“It’s sort of like sending your kid off to college except they never even phone home for money, so we wonder what’s happening to them out there,” Beasley said. “It’s tears and cheers. Cheers, because they’re going back home. Tears, because we are going to miss them.”

The farewells came from left and right and even from the balconies above. That is where we found a familiar face to Surf City.

“I did not think we’d ever be able to do this again,” Rena Garcia said.

Two years ago, the Make-A-Wish Foundation brought Rena and Mike Garcia’s family to Surf City where they were showered with love, gifts, and support as a wish for their daughter Natalie who has a rare mito-chondrial disease.

“Well the owners of this beautiful house that we’re staying in reached out and invited us to have another stay,” Garcia said.

Garcia said it is like having a wish all over again.

“The minute we got to the beach, the minute she saw the water, she knew,” Garcia said. “She may not be able to tell us, but she knew where she was at. She recognized the house.”

From the smile on her face, it also looked like Natalie recognized the turtles from her visit to the turtle hospital last time.

“Natalie was very excited about that,” Garcia said. She still has her stuffed turtle that the turtle center gave her.”

Since their last trip, Natalie has turned 13. Garcia said that was something doctors told them would never happen.

“They told us she wouldn’t… First five and then, they told us 10,” Garcia said.

At 13 years old, Garcia said Natalie is living life in junior high and now, rocking a Surf City sun burn as she cheered on the turtles with the rest of the town.

“This is such a wonderful town,” Garcia said. “I follow this town on Facebook and I just adore it. The people are so sweet.”

The Garcia’s will be in Surf City all week. All 13 turtles made it back home.