SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A U.S. Army veteran from South Florida, who was injured overseas, got the holiday surprise of his dreams: tickets to Barbra Streisand’s concert on Monday.
Army vet Sergio Lopez opened the front door of his Southwest Miami-Dade home on Friday to find a radio personality standing there. “Hi, Sergio. Giselle Andres. Mucho gusto,” said Andres, a morning host with Easy 93.1 FM, as she shook his hand.
It was a special moment for Lopez, 45, after having endured so much pain. “I have a hearing aid because I have hearing loss from the concussion, from the blast injury in 2006,” he said. “I also wear a back brace. I have a traumatic brain injury.”
Lopez was injured while serving in Iraq. “We were doing combat patrols in the City of Ramadi, and we rolled over an improvised explosive device that was in the middle of the road,” he said.
The Army vet sustained a brain injury and a spinal cord injury, and he said the recovery process has been challenging.
Through it all, he never lost sight of his lifelong dream of seeing Barbra Streisand live in concert.
An envelope in Andres’ hand held the key to making that dream a reality. “And I’m sure you can probably guess what’s in here,” she said.
“I’m hoping it is what I think it is,” said Lopez.
“What do you think it is?” asked Andres.
“I’m hoping it’s tickets to see Barbra,” replied Lopez.
“Enjoy your concert,” said Andres.
Lopez then hugged the radio personality. “Thank you so much,” he said.
Lopez had sent an email to the radio station. In it, he wrote that having the opportunity to see Streisand in concert would be one of the most memorable moments of his life. He also wrote that he used to listen to the Oscar-winning performer on the battlefields of Iraq with his fellow soldiers.
“Barbra, here I come,” he said as he stared directly at 7News’ cameras. “I’m going to see you.”
Lopez joined the armed forces after the Sept. 11 attacks. Hanging in his office is a U.S. flag with the description “flag of honor” that contains the names of all the victims.
Lopez, a father of three, said he will be taking his mother to the concert.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.