One day with my mom that we will never forget is the day she flew to the United States. My family and I went to the Camagüey airport to say goodbye to her, and it was an extremely difficult moment. We were deeply worried about her well-being in a foreign country. She knew only a couple of friends who could help her begin a new life.
At that time, she had recently developed diabetes, a health condition that made adapting even harder. She was an adult with no special skills, no university degree, and no knowledge of the language or culture. Starting over so far away from her family felt almost impossible. Despite all these limitations, my mom was convinced she would succeed. She believed she could build a better future and one day reunite our family.
Watching her walk away that day was heartbreaking, but it was also the moment we truly understood her strength. A couple of years later, we reunited with our mom and shared many years filled with her love and compassion. Beyond the family values she taught us—respect, honesty, and support—the greatest lesson she left us was perseverance: never give up, and believe that there is no obstacle in life that cannot be overcome. Always fight to make your dreams come true, just as she did.