A poignant story of sacrifice, hope, and a heart-wrenching conclusion has deeply affected the Cuban community both on the island and abroad.
Hortencia Rosado Rojas, a 69-year-old Cuban woman, passed away in Brazil just hours after reuniting with her son, Adolfo Hechavarría Rosado, following a challenging migration journey they both embarked on with the dream of being together again.
Adolfo shared his harrowing experience in a video posted on Facebook by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
Clearly emotional, he explained his long struggle to bring his mother out of Cuba and gather the necessary funds to have her by his side.
"Right when I finally managed to bring her... my mom arrived here on Wednesday, she suffered a severe anxiety attack when she saw me, fell ill, and yesterday at one in the afternoon she passed away here in Manaus," he recounted tearfully.
Adolfo's Journey to Reunite with His Mother
In another post, Mayeta Labrada elaborated on this sorrowful narrative.
Adolfo arrived in Brazil on September 23, 2024, and settled in Curitiba with a singular goal: to gather the means to reunite with his mother, whose health was fragile due to various ailments and her advanced age.
After months of hard work, he finally managed to cover the travel expenses in early October and arranged for Hortencia's departure from Cuba in early December.
The Emotional Reunion and Its Aftermath
On Monday, December 8, Hortencia embarked on her journey from Havana to Guyana as part of her passage to Brazil. The following day, she had already entered Brazilian territory.
The much-anticipated reunion took place two nights later when Adolfo traveled from Curitiba to Manaus to fetch her and bring her to her new home. Upon seeing her son, Hortencia excitedly exclaimed, "We did it!"
However, this long-awaited embrace also signaled the beginning of a tragic turn of events.
After the emotional impact of the trip and reunion, she suffered a severe anxiety attack and was rushed to the Hospital 28 de Agosto in Manaus. There, doctors informed her son that she had been suffering from a serious pulmonary issue for years, and only one of her lungs was functioning.
Her condition worsened twice during her hospitalization.
Ultimately, on Saturday, December 13, around 1:00 pm, Hortencia Rosado Rojas passed away, leaving her son engulfed in profound grief: he had managed to get her out of Cuba, embrace her after their separation, only to lose her just hours later.
The Aftermath of a Tragic Loss
Hortencia would have celebrated her 70th birthday on January 10.
Mother and son lived in Santiago de Cuba, in the Dessy neighborhood, known as Chicharrones.
Now, far from her homeland, Hortencia will be laid to rest in Brazil with the aid of supportive Cubans and the local government of Manaus.
Meanwhile, her son faces his grief alone in a foreign land, burdened by the financial challenge of giving his mother a dignified farewell. Having missed his planned flight to Curitiba due to the hospitalization, he now needs to transport Hortencia's remains to that city, prompting him to seek assistance for covering the travel costs in the coming days.
Those wishing to offer their support can contact Adolfo Hechavarría Rosado at +55 41 99874-5407.
Beyond the personal tragedy, this story starkly highlights one of the most painful aspects of Cuban migration: families separated for years, reunions that come too late, and farewells that happen far from home.
For the vast majority of Cubans, leaving the country is not a simple choice but a forced escape driven by necessity, exacting a heavy emotional toll.
On this journey, mothers and sons, fathers, siblings, and partners risk everything on the hope of embracing once more, even when the body can no longer endure, yet love prevails.
Understanding the Emotional Toll of Cuban Migration
What challenges did Adolfo face in reuniting with his mother?
Adolfo faced the challenges of securing the necessary funds to bring his mother from Cuba and ensuring her safe travel to Brazil, where he had settled.
How did Hortencia's health affect the reunion?
Hortencia's health, compromised by a severe pulmonary condition and her advanced age, deteriorated rapidly after the emotional reunion, leading to her hospitalization and eventual passing.
What does this story reveal about the Cuban migration experience?
This story illustrates the immense emotional burden and sacrifices involved in Cuban migration, where families are often separated for years, and reunions can come too late, occurring far from home.