A man who thinks he’s dropping his daughter off at the airport is left stunned when he discovers he is the one catching a flight and heading to his home country to reunite with his family after 18 years apart.
When Venancio Martinez, from San Antonio, Texas, picked up daughter Cindy and her friend Kayi for a “girls’ trip” to Vegas, he had no idea he was collecting his own luggage secretly packed by wife Candy.
He’d been living in the U.S. away from his family in Mexico for almost 20 years, and six years after he and Candy got married, he finally received the documents he’d need to travel and re-enter the States.
Candy secretly planned a trip to see his family and came up with the perfect way to surprise Venancio by packing their luggage but pretending it was daughter Cindy’s and bringing her to the airport.
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After arriving at San Antonio International, Cindy asked to take a ‘photo’ of the pair but secretly recorded a video when Candy revealed they are the ones traveling and will be flying to Mexico.
Venancio immediately looked shocked, before welling up with emotion knowing the moment he had waited so many years for was about to become reality.
Candy said: “My husband had been living in the U.S. for over 18 years – we married in May 2012, and 6 years later he was approved for his visa.
“I felt it was important for him to see his family in Mexico, especially his parents, so I planned a full surprise for him.
“That morning I told him to go with me to take my daughter and her friend at the airport for a Vegas trip they were going on and by this time I had all our luggage and documents ready to go.
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“We go to my daughter’s apartment, and he helped with the luggage… little did he know it was ours!
“We get to the airport and my daughter Cindy asked to take a pic but it was really a video and that’s why he standing still and stiff.
“I then tell him ‘Papi you know I love you, right?’ He said ‘Yes’ – that’s when I tell him it’s us leaving not the girls and he says ‘Really? Are you serious?’
“My husband is humble and shy, but his reaction was priceless. He did a stretch and started to cry.
“Everyone asks how I pulled it off and all I say was it was a lot of phone calls but I did it and no one deserves it more than him.
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“I’m so grateful to have someone like him in my life he is a true warrior and a fighter.
“I admire someone like him, living in the U.S. for 18 years without seeing his parents that to me just shows how strong he is.
“For others, I hope this will be a video of hope and shows everything is possible.
“Don’t lose faith – we know so many never get to go back and visit family.”