Valentina Aragundy is a 36-year-old woman who lives in the US along with her husband.
She moved to the United States from Colombia fourteen years ago, when her family sent her off to study there in order to keep her safe and help her have a better future.
At that time, things in Colombia were quite scary, with kidnappings being on the rise and with her family receiving threats.
“In the 90s in Colombia there was a lot of kidnappings,” Valentina told Humankind, “by the guerilla, by the military. We had received some threats, some very credible threats, to my life and my safety. So, my family got together and made the decision that it was in my best interest to just remove me from the situation.”
Indeed, shortly after Valentina’s first communion, her father accompanied her to the airport in Bogota and waved at her while she was walking towards the plane that would take her away from him for the next 21 years.
At the time, they had no idea how long it would take until they could see their daughter again, but they have never forgotten about her.
They kept in touch, although it was impossible for many years to travel either from Colombia to the US or the other way around.
Valentina graduated from college and continues her studies and is now a professional, while she is also a married woman.
Sadly, her family could not be with her to share those special moments of her life.
They could not attend her graduation or her wedding, but they have always been there emotionally.
They were always thinking of her and hoping she had built a better life for herself than she would have in Colombia.
And then, just when Valentina received permanent residency in the US, she was about to travel back to her country of origin to see her family.
And then the pandemic hit and all travel was canceled.
“It just put this wall and the emotions just started building up, building up against this wall because nobody could travel,” Valentina said.
“Even if we wanted to, we could not. So the moment that the wall released, it was just this outpouring of everything that has been built up.”
The Miami, Florida, resident knew that as soon as she was allowed to travel, she would buy a ticket to Colombia.
Indeed, she and her husband flew to the airport of Bogota, where she had last seen her father, Joffre, in person, and surprised him.
You see, Joffre thought he was going to the airport to pick up another relative.
It took him a few seconds to realize that it was actually his daughter who was there in front of him after 21 years apart.
As soon as he did, he broke up into tears of joy.
The family is determined to make the most of the time they will have together from now on.
Watch the emotional reunion in the video below!
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