“Having a loved one incarcerated is like having someone in limbo; not quite here but not quite gone.”
Born and raised in Miami to Cuban immigrants, Elly is the youngest of two siblings. She grew up in a single-parent household, and spent much of her early years visiting her father in prison after he was arrested when she was just 3-years old.
Although her life seemed relatively normal for a child outside of that, it became increasingly unstable for her and her older brother as their mother struggled to navigate her personal trauma and financial hardships.
After almost facing homelessness, Elly and her family had no choice but to move in to her paternal grandmother’s home, sharing one room with her mother and brother for many years.
In 2001, she saw her life change when her father was relieved from his ten year sentence. He quickly secured a job and began to fill the role of a supportive and loving parent. With her dad around, Elly saw doors in her life open that weren’t open before; she saw a second chance at being a normal, happy family.
But in 2004, Armando was arrested again after working as an informant with the FBI. This incident tore the family apart - they subsequently lost their home, many of their possessions, and were forced to part ways. Elly and her brother returned to their grandparents house.
Armando’s second arrest profoundly impacted the family and caused Elly to cope through trauma-related dissociation. For many years, her father’s life sentence and incarceration lived in the background of her mind.
In 2017, Elly decided to return to Miami after her grandmother’s passing. The grief from the loss motivated her to come back home to be closer to her family. Through her recent work in therapy, Elly has been able to overcome her PTSD and finally gather the means to help tell her family's story in hopes of bringing her father home.
