"He's very, very excited:" Make-A-Wish, California company team up to send a sick child to paradise

CALIFORNIA (WITI) -- The Make-A-Wish Foundation and a California company teamed up to send a five-year-old California boy on a trip of a lifetime -- to paradise!

Desmond Geller was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia last November. Now, the little boy is gearing up to head to Hawaii, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and San Diego company First Allied Securities.

First, he has leukemia, then has a high risk leukemia that requires a bone marrow transplant. I think our hearts were just broken open," Desmond's mother, Michelle Geller told FOX5 in San Diego.

First Allied Securities has presented Desmond with a check for $45,000, which he will split with four other kids. FOX5 reports the money came from employees who participated in year-round fundraising efforts coordinated by company's in-house First Philanthropy program.

Michelle Geller says her son is thrilled to go back to Hawaii -- which is where he first learned to swim.

"He's just excited. It's kind of his one athletic ability -- to swim, so he's very, very excited," Michelle Geller told FOX5.

Desmond's leukemia is currently in remission, and he'll head to Hawaii in January.

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