A Cuban identified as Patry B posted a video on TikTok in which she recounts how, after living in Spain for four years, she went from having everything to losing absolutely everything, and how she has managed to rebuild her life from scratch.
The testimony, published on her account @patriciatodosepuede, began as the story of a journey she planned for just three months. "I am completing four years in Spain, a trip I had initially planned for three months", she says at the beginning of the video.
Patry B left Cuba on April 6, 2022. Before boarding the plane, she kissed her father and said, "Dad, don’t worry, I’ll be back in three months." Her husband was supposed to join her three days later, after obtaining a student visa at the Spanish embassy in Havana. He never arrived: his visa was denied.
What followed was a chain of losses. Four months after his arrival, his father was found dead in his office in Cuba. "I never saw my father again," he recounts. His 16-year-old dog also passed away. And her husband, instead of seeking a way to get to Spain, emigrated to the United States and sent her the divorce papers without coming back.
To support himself financially, he had to sell his house in Cuba. In addition, the apartment he had bought in Spain had illegal occupants, a situation he was unaware of at the time of the purchase and which took time to resolve.
"I went from having everything —to not having a husband, to not having a father, to not having a home, to not having a dog, to having nothing at all— and finding myself alone in Spain with my children starting over," she summarizes in the video. "It has been four very tough years."
Before emigrating, the trained actress had a home, a car, a business, and a marriage in Cuba that she described as stable. However, when responding to those who question her decision to leave the island, she was straightforward: "I had many things, but I didn't have freedom, and the situation in Cuba was getting worse by the day."
After four years, the report shows a gradual recovery. He graduated as a senior technician in commerce, managed to reclaim his apartment from illegal occupants, obtained a driver's license, has a car, and has residency papers. "I have my apartment, I have my car, I have my papers, the rest will come with the work of each day," he wrote in response to a comment.
The testimony generated a strong sense of identification among users who have experienced similar migration processes. Dozens of people shared stories marked by loss, family separations, and the need to start over in another country. “My story is similar… I had everything in Cuba… and when I arrived here, I was diagnosed with cancer… now I’m alone,” wrote one user, while others recounted separations after years of relationships or personal sacrifices that didn't turn out as they had hoped.
Many comments highlighted the emotional impact of emigration, beyond material considerations. Phrases like “from having everything to having nothing and finding yourself alone in a country with children,” “the beginnings are extremely difficult,” or “those of us who emigrate carry many things in our hearts” were frequently echoed. Some also recounted irreparable family losses from afar, such as the deaths of parents, partners, or pets, without the possibility of farewells, which strengthens the feeling of uprootedness.
Additionally, several users shared stories of overcoming challenges after difficult years. Some recounted how they arrived "with almost nothing" and managed to rebuild their lives through hard work and effort, while others emphasized that, despite everything, "it has been worth it" or that "with sacrifice, everything comes." These types of messages reflect a common narrative among emigrants: resilience as the only way to move forward.
Alongside those testimonials, there were numerous messages of direct support for the protagonist. “You are a fighter,” “congratulations on being reborn stronger,” “brave woman,” and “you've overcome” stand out among dozens of comments that acknowledge her ability to rise above adversity. There were also messages filled with empathy: “no one can understand the pain one must rise from and continue,” or “you are not alone,” highlighting an emotional connection to her story.
However, not all reactions were positive. Some users questioned their decisions or downplayed their narrative. "If you had everything, leaving was a very bad idea," "having it all in my country, I wouldn't move," or "to leave everything means that the only thing you had there was hunger" reflect more critical stances, which are common in this type of debate on social media.
Overall, the exchange presents a complex mosaic of migratory experiences where pain, resilience, support, and controversy intertwine. The responses reveal not only the harshness of the emigration process but also the varying perceptions of what it means to "have it all" in Cuba and the choice to start anew outside the country.
Stories like hers reflect the human impact of the crisis in Cuba, where more and more citizens are being driven to emigrate. But they also highlight something else: the ability of many to rebuild their lives from scratch and find stability after particularly difficult years.
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