A six-year-old boy has lost one of the few physical connections he has to his late mother, Daileni Hernández: the photographs stored on a missing cell phone. The boy's grandmother has made an urgent plea on social media, begging for whoever found it to kindly return it.
"She left behind a son who only has memories of his mother through the photos taken on that phone," the grandmother wrote, appealing to the compassion of the phone's current holder. The author of this heartfelt message is Adis Grillo, the deceased young woman's mother and the boy's grandmother. She shared her plea online, gaining traction with the help of Alexander Ríos Cruz, who posted a screenshot of the message on his Facebook profile, broadening its reach within Cuba.
In the message, Grillo stresses that this is not about retrieving a material possession but about preserving the memories of a young boy who, at such a tender age, has lost his mother. The pain he feels can be slightly eased by those cherished images.
"Whoever has it, please think of an innocent child who loved his mother more than anyone... he will never see her again," she pleaded. The family is hopeful that the person in possession of the phone will act with kindness and return it. "Now, all I can do is hope that person is kind enough to give it back... please," said the heartbroken grandmother.
Last Sunday, Cuban mother Maura Vázquez shared a heartfelt letter dedicated to her daughter Doraiky Águila Vázquez, 48, who went missing in Havana on March 15 and whose whereabouts remain unknown. The message conveys deep sorrow, unwavering hope, and the love that sustains a mother in her daughter's absence. Written with intimacy and directness, the letter recounts childhood memories, tender family moments, and a steadfast promise to continue the search.
"Dear daughter, every time I look at your photos, memories of you flood my mind, from the moment we first knew you were coming (...) I cling to those memories that fill me with love and strength to continue searching for you," wrote the grieving mother.
Preserving Memories Through Photos
Why is the lost cell phone so important to the family?
The lost cell phone contains photographs that are the only tangible memories the young boy has of his deceased mother, making it irreplaceable to the family.
How did the grandmother's plea gain attention?
The plea gained attention after Alexander Ríos Cruz shared a screenshot of the grandmother's message on his Facebook profile, extending its reach to a wider audience in Cuba.
What emotions are expressed in Maura Vázquez's letter?
Maura Vázquez's letter expresses deep sorrow, enduring hope, and the powerful love of a mother determined to keep searching for her missing daughter.