A Cuban woman who has lived in the United States since the mid-1990s has shared a heartfelt account of her determination to provide for her son. Her story involves seventeen harrowing attempts to escape Cuba by raft, facing persecution, public shaming, and the belief that there was no viable future on the island.
Journalist Claudia Padrón captured the journey of Vilma Quintana, a mother and dentist, in an interview published by Cubanet. Vilma risked everything, time and again, to secure a different life for her child.
"I went out to sea 17 times on a raft," she reveals. "I did it for him. I risked everything to get him out of Cuba," she adds.
The Illusion of a Professional Life
Vilma followed the path encouraged by the socialist regime: she attended a vocational school in Santa Clara, graduated in Dentistry, specialized in Biochemistry, and taught at the university. However, she soon realized that her education and degree were insufficient to ensure a decent life.
"I spent my life studying, yet to visit my family, I had to rely on trains, buses, or hitchhiking," she recalled.
Raising her son alone, she survived on what her father could provide from the countryside. She had no personal transportation and used a bicycle to get around. Her hard work in education did not translate into opportunities or stability.
Repeated Attempts at Sea with Her Son
Determined not to let her son's future hinge on a ration book or a symbolic salary, she decided to break away and seek an escape—both literally and figuratively—to another country.
The process was prolonged, traumatic, and secretive. Vilma attempted to leave seventeen times, always with her son by her side.
"We tried to leave many times; there were ultimately 17 attempts," she recounted.
Sometimes, the boat never arrived; other times, it was overcrowded. On one occasion, the vessel broke down, and they were detained.
"That time, we were caught. I couldn't return to work because they were planning a public shaming," she explained.
A student warned her over the phone: "Professor, don't come because they're going to hold a shaming act."
From that point, her connection with the university was severed. She took refuge at her parents' home and focused solely on finding a way to flee.
The Final Journey: Hunger, Rescue, and Guantánamo Detention
The 17th attempt was the decisive one, though it was not without danger.
The boat carrying Vilma and her son broke down again, leaving them stranded for two days on an islet without food or water. Another vessel brought supplies, allowing them to continue their journey.
"Twelve hours later, the U.S. Coast Guard picked us up, and we spent five days on the helicopter landing platform while they gathered other rafters. We numbered up to 700," she described.
However, the Clinton administration had changed the policy: they would not be immediately admitted to the U.S.
"The captain informed us the night before that President Clinton ordered that rafters would go to Guantánamo instead of the U.S.," she recounts.
They were taken to Guantánamo in August 1994 and stayed there for seven months before being relocated to the Homestead base in Florida in March 1995.
Starting Over for Her Son
Arriving in the U.S. did not solve all their problems instantly. Vilma did not speak English, had no money, or support network, and had to care for her son alone.
"I knew I had to work, learn English, and start over, forgetting my career to pay for rent, food, and transportation."
She worked in a cafeteria, factory, and pizzeria, earning $10 a day plus tips. She walked or used public transport.
"It was tough being a single mother relying solely on my income," she recalls.
Additionally, she paid for her son's school transportation. It was the hardest phase, but also the most determined.
"Honestly, I was thinking about my son's future, not mine," she asserts.
Reclaiming a Lost Career
Eventually, Vilma found work as a dental assistant. Later, she trained to become a hygienist, working for seven years while her son grew up. It was he who encouraged her to validate her professional degree.
"Mom, don't you want to be a dentist?" he asked.
Although she thought it impossible, her son supported her through the application process.
She was finally accepted at Nova University in Miami, and after three years of study, she graduated as a dentist in the U.S. It was not easy: without access to scholarships, she accumulated significant debt.
Her Own Practice: Independence After Years of Struggle
Vilma worked in various clinics until 2011, when she could open her own practice.
"We opened this office in 2011. It's small, a general dentistry practice," she explained.
She serves local patients, private insurance holders, Medicaid, and Medicare. Although they offer cosmetic services like veneers, that is not the main focus.
"I never dreamed of Rolexes or Lamborghinis; I just want peace, a place to live, some travel, and a simple life," she declared. However, years of hard work and the 17 attempts to flee Cuba have left her with physical ailments: damaged cervical discs and shoulder injuries.
"All those years working and the attempts to leave Cuba, carrying a heavy backpack and a gallon of water through the countryside and mangroves took a toll."
Three Decades Later: No Return, No Regret
Vilma has not returned to Cuba.
"I've renewed my Cuban passport all these years; it's now valid for another eight years. I've never gone back to Cuba."
She keeps in touch with friends and family, helping them from afar. She misses Sagua la Grande, Santa Clara, the places where she studied. She maintains contact with former classmates. Despite this, she has no regrets.
"I am deeply grateful and happy for the decision I made to come to this country. If I had to do it all over again, I would, to give my son a future," she states firmly.
"And it was also my future, because I have a better life here and could help my parents, repaying them for what they did for us," she concludes.
FAQs about Vilma Quintana's Journey to the U.S.
How many times did Vilma attempt to leave Cuba?
Vilma attempted to leave Cuba 17 times, always with her son by her side.
What ultimately happened on Vilma's successful attempt?
On the 17th attempt, Vilma and her son were picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard and detained in Guantánamo before eventually relocating to Florida.
Did Vilma ever return to Cuba after reaching the U.S.?
No, Vilma has not returned to Cuba since leaving and expresses no regrets about her decision.
What career did Vilma eventually pursue in the U.S.?
After various jobs, Vilma became a dental hygienist and later validated her degree to become a dentist, eventually opening her own practice.