8-year-old amputee Cieran Kelso recently swam with Winter, a dolphin that wears a prosthetic tail, at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. According to The Tampa Bay Times, local tourism officials treated Cieran and his family with a trip to the aquarium and a one-on-one swimming session with Winter, the inspiration for “Dolphin Tale.”

“There are some pretty raw feelings that go into seeing Cieran swim with the dolphin. His first words when he saw the film was ‘Winter’s disabled, just like me,'” Gary, the 8-year-old boy’s father, told The Tampa Bay Times. “It’s just been a dolphin on a film for a long time and now it’s real. … It’s just a dream come true.”

The Tampa Bay Times reports that tourism officials in Britain sent a news article about the new flippers that Cieran’s dad designed for him to tourism officials at the Pinellas County tourism agency. Pinellas County officials discussed the news article with the aquarium and decided to fly Cieran and his family to Florida. The newspaper notes that the trip to the aquarium was a secret until Cieran’s parents revealed the true destination during the family’s flight across the Atlantic.

According to the newspaper, Cieran was barely a year old when he contracted meningitis. Although he eventually recovered, he lost both his legs below the knee. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the spinal cord called the meninges. The inflammation is typically a result of an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Cieran swarm with Winter and a trainer and was eventually joined by his 5-year-old sister and Winter’s sister fro a group swimming session. After swimming with Winter, Cieran’s connection with the dolphin was obvious.

“The feeling was great … emotional to be swimming with a dolphin. I love dolphins. But, the most best dolphin I’ve ever loved is Winter,” Cieran said, according to CNN. Cieran reportedly wants to return to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium someday so he can work and care for Winter.

What do you think of Cieran’s story? Should more efforts be made to have kids with disabilities bond with animals that share similar disabilities? Let us know what you think in the comments section.