She traveled to Mexico to reconnect with her roots and found love. What followed next was separation, loss and joy
She traveled to Mexico to reconnect with her roots and found love. What followed next was separation, loss and joy
The Unexpected Connection
In April 2017, Yesica Aramburo journeyed to Mexico for a celebration in her family’s hometown of La Moncada, Guanajuato. At 20, she was still a student in Chicago, but the allure of her heritage drew her to the festivities. It was there she first encountered Ramón Vega, a man who worked as an automotive detailer. “We met in the garden,” she remembered. “From then on, something sparked between us, though we didn’t know each other—his connection was through my cousin.”
A Return to Mexico
Despite that initial meeting, their bond took time to grow. That year, Aramburo returned to Chicago to complete her studies in accounting, yet her heart remained tethered to Mexico. The 29-year-old American spoke of her deep affection for the country, from its vibrant culture to the warmth of its people. “I love Mexico,” she said. “Even though life there is simple, it feels like the world is packed into every moment—colors, community, and the way people celebrate.”
A Baby’s Journey
By January 2018, Aramburo made another trip to Mexico with the hope of spending more time in her parents’ homeland. She reunited with Vega, and the pair began dating. However, neither felt ready for commitment, so she returned to Chicago and he stayed in Guanajuato, each beginning new relationships. The turning point came in September 2020, when she returned to Mexico for good and met the man who would become the father of her child. “Romance blossomed,” she shared. “We started as friends, afraid of heartbreak, but the connection was intense.”
Separation and Sorrow
After a few months, Aramburo discovered she was pregnant in November 2020. The couple’s relationship deepened, but distance became a challenge. She stayed in Chicago for the December holidays to share the news, then returned to Mexico in February 2021 for the gender reveal. Soon after, complications arose, and a doctor advised bed rest and a move to the U.S. “So I returned home,” she recounted. “A few nights later, I lost all the fluid, and my baby was born on April 11, 2021—just 20 weeks old. I held him for half an hour, baptized him, and then he passed away.”
A Journey of Grief and Reconciliation
With her baby’s ashes, Aramburo traveled to Guanajuato in March 2021, carrying her sorrow without a fixed return date. Once reunited with Vega, they grieved together, though their ways of processing loss differed. “He didn’t want to show his emotions, but I’m very sensitive—when I feel sadness, I express it,” she explained. “Therapy helped us bridge the gap. It brought us closer and made us realize we couldn’t live without each other.”
Love Reborn
After healing, the couple chose to honor their child by taking a trip to Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s Pacific coast. There, Vega proposed, and she said yes. Their wedding, held on February 14, 2022, was described as “small and very simple” to ease the consular process for a green card. “We wanted to start a new chapter together,” she said. “Even though the path was hard, it led us to where we are now.”
“I had to do everything alone, I couldn’t run to see him. And although he supported me, he wasn’t physically there. We couldn’t bury our baby, so we cremated him because I didn’t want to take away the opportunity for him to be there in that moment,” she shared.
