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Make-A-Wish Makes Thanksgiving Extra Special For 2 Cohen Children's Hospital Patients

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Thanksgiving will be extra special this year for two young people facing some trying times.

Despite facing life threatening illnesses, 10-year-old Seraphina O'Brien and 19-year-old Alexander Castillo are beaming with joy.

Seraphina and Alexander, who are patients at the Cohen Children's Hospital, will be going on their dream vacations thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"What we give is hope, you know we're in the hope business," Make-A-Wish Metro New York CEO Phil Lussier said.

Seraphina is going to Paris, and Alexander is heading to Hawaii.

"Awesome, amazing, exciting," Seraphina said.

"I went through a lot and what they're doing for me means a lot to me and really touches the heart," Alexander said.

Northwell Health and the Make-A-Wish Foundation helped throw Seraphina and Alexander a send-off party on Tuesday.

Northwell employees raised over $22,000 to help make their wishes come true, the company wrote on its Instagram page. 

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