Help from Cuba

In early 2012, I called the United States Interest Section in Havana—AKA the consulate, but because of the embargo, it has a different name—to make an appointment for Loly, Natacha's mother who lives in Cuba, for a visa to the US. The soonest one available was for November 2016.

Loly wanted to be in New York when Valeria was born, but she had to miss it, and she wanted to help during Valeria's surgery, which Natacha and I really needed, but having the surgeries in Cuba proofed rather complicated.

In the meantime, we continued looking for the right doctor in the US, and found Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia; they were amazing, and quick to set up a date for the surgery.

We mentioned to Loly that we were happy with the physicians we had found, and that the surgery was within a few weeks, that would be in May 2013. She mentioned that she had heard visas’ appointments had been sped up; we should try calling again the US Interest Section. And I did without any hope.

When I phoned, they asked me for Loly’s info, and then they said, “we have an opening for April 16th, 2013.”

I thought, “2013? That’s in how many years? Wait! That’s in two weeks!”

“Will you take it or not?” the operator at the Interest Section asked.

I was still in shock, so it took me a few seconds to react, but I said, “Yes, we take it”.

In less than fourteen days, Natacha and I had to gather the documents to proof that we could financially invite her, and Loly had to gather all the documents to proof that she had strong ties to go back Cuba. The main tie was that she’s the only taking care of Nancy, her 87 years-old mom.

On April 16th, only 35 people out of 700 got visas to the US; one of them was Loly.

She didn’t have a phone, but a relative of hers emailed me with the results after the appointment. I called Natacha, who was anxiously waiting for the news, on video chat. She started jumping with joy when she heard the news, and hung me up right away; “Bye”, she said, “I have to tell the family.”

After getting her visa, Loly went back to Bayamo, packed her things up, arranged who was going to take care of Nancy for the three months she was going to be away, and flew to Miami. All within three days.

She spent a short time there visiting her relatives, and finally made it to New York last night; Valeria was resistant to be carried by Loly for a while, but after a few grandmother tricks, Valeria ceded.

Natacha and I finally got the help from Cuba that we needed, and right on time. We’re ready to drive in a few hours to Philadelphia for the surgery of the mirror foot.