FEATURE path forward was the arduous journey. Juan enlisted the help of a sergeant, who served with him in the military. The sergeant carried Juan for miles across the wildest jungle terrain. Maria shepherded the children. “At one point, I almost drowned with our youngest daughter while crossing a river,” Maria said. “But Juan’s sergeant saved us. We wouldn’t have made it without him.” Every leg of the journey included paying gangs to pass often lawless terrain. After months of danger, hunger, and exhaustion, the couple reached the U.S., determined to build a safer, more stable life for their children. Though their future remains uncertain as they await work permits, their love and commitment to one another remain unshaken. “For us, love means sacrifice and teamwork,” Juan said. “We’ve faced every hardship together, and we’ll keep fighting for our family’s future.” When the family reached Denver, the city offered them a one-month stay at a hotel near the airport. They feared they would end up homeless once the voucher ended, and Maria immediately tried to find any income she could. They saved just enough to afford a small one-bedroom apartment but have been near eviction multiple times. They are now navigating the challenges of starting over, seeking asylum, and adapting to a new culture. WE WANT OUR DAUGHTERS TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES WE NEVER HAD. THAT’S WHY WE’VE ENDURED SO MUCH BECAUSE WE LOVE EACH OTHER AND BELIEVE IN A BETTER TOMORROW.” “ “We want our daughters to have opportunities we never had. That’s why we’ve endured so much because we love each other and believe in a better tomorrow,” Maria said. Juan said his love for Maria has never wavered, and the two have been committed to each other and their daughters through it all. “I wouldn’t want my daughters to go through the same thing because I went through a lot of need and hunger when I was a child,” Juan said. “That’s why I try to make my relationship work, and when I feel like something is failing, we talk about it together as a couple.” But the two see the growing anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States and fear once again for their future and safety. Juan said he believes that the immigrant community shares many values with Americans and should be a welcome addition to this country’s melting pot. He and Maria are driven by their faith, family, and hard work. The couple also urged Americans to consider the struggles of migrants. “We are not here to harm anyone,” Juan said. “We want to work hard, contribute, and build a better future — not just for our children, but for this country, as well.” No matter what their future holds, Juan and Maria are certain they will go through everything together. IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE FOR A DISABLED MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR, HIS WIFE, AND THEIR THREE YOUNG CHILDREN TO CROSS THE DANGEROUS DARIAN GAP… BUT THEY FELT THAT THEIR ONLY PATH FORWARD WAS THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY. | PHOTO COURTESY OF JUAN AND MARIA “FOR US, LOVE MEANS SACRIFICE AND TEAMWORK. WE’VE FACED EVERY HARDSHIP TOGETHER, AND WE’LL KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR FAMILY’S FUTURE.” | PHOTO BY GILES CLASEN February 2025 DENVER VOICE 7
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