A Cuban woman living in the United States made a heartfelt journey across the sea to ensure her baby girl, Alaia, celebrated her first birthday surrounded by family in Cuba. The TikTok video sharing this special event garnered over 300,000 views and struck a chord with many viewers.
Daniela Roxana Berrey (@danielaroxanaberr) meticulously planned the celebration, choosing a theme that spoke volumes about her: since Alaia hasn't picked a favorite character yet, the party theme was Alaia herself. "I decided to make the theme about her, Princess Alaia. Everything was personalized with her photo, name, and colors," she explained in the video. The decorators, as she described, did "a beautiful job."
Guests brought small tokens for the birthday girl, like a cookie or juice box. While these might seem ordinary elsewhere, in Cuba, they carry a different weight. Daniela felt this deeply: "The value was never in the gift but in the intention and effort they made to bring it to my daughter, knowing Cuba's situation."
One of the most poignant moments in the video was when Daniela shared her thoughts upon seeing children arriving with these little gifts: "Thinking that maybe the child who brought a cookie couldn't even eat it themselves broke my heart."
Daniela also addressed criticism from those who question taking children to the island. Her response was candid: "It's easy to say don't take her to Cuba when you have no one there or have the privilege of having all your family with you. We know the difficulties in Cuba, but we also know that for our daughter, Cuba is filled with people who love her."
Although Alaia might not remember the day as she grows, her mom has a solution: "She'll have this video to see how happy she was and all the love that surrounded her."
The comments section was flooded with messages from Cubans in the diaspora who related to Daniela's experience. One summed it up by saying, "With that party, you not only made your daughter happy but also several children who got to escape daily struggles for a while." Another user shared that she, too, traveled to Cuba for her child's first birthday, saying, "There's nothing like celebrating there with the whole family and the joy children feel seeing so many gifts and toys."
This is not the first time Daniela has shared a viral moment involving Cuba and her baby. Earlier this year, her surprise arrival on the island with Alaia also sparked significant online reactions. This birthday story is, in many ways, the next chapter in a love story between a mother, her daughter, and the family left behind on the island.
Questions About Traveling to Cuba for Family Celebrations
Why did Daniela decide to celebrate Alaia's birthday in Cuba?
Daniela wanted Alaia to celebrate her first birthday surrounded by family, despite the challenges in Cuba, emphasizing the importance of love and togetherness.
What was unique about the birthday party theme?
Since Alaia hadn't chosen a favorite character yet, the theme revolved around her, with everything personalized with her image, name, and colors.
How did Daniela address criticism about taking her child to Cuba?
Daniela explained that while it's easy to criticize from afar, for her daughter, Cuba is a place filled with love from family members.