Honduran toddler found abandoned in Mexico finally comes home to his mother’s arms

Gulf Today Report

Refugees who flee their countries for a better life elsewhere find themselves in a situation which defines their existence: homeless, helpless, hopeless. Many, crammed in utterly unsafe boats, have drowned trying to cross treacherous waters to reach Europe; some whose claims are rejected are trundled back to where they came from; others end up in detention centres waiting for deportation.

The condition of migrants, specially those who are desperately trying to reach the US under any circumstances, is no better. A good number of them face terrible situations. This story of a toddler has struck a chord all over the world because he was abandoned after he was separated from his father, spent days in custody, and was finally reunited with his mother in an emotional reunion.

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Wilder, the 2-year-old in question, is a boy from Honduras who left his land -- and poverty -- with his father, Noel Ladino, to migrate to the Land of Hope and Prosperity -- America. But somewhere along the way, for some inexplicable reason, by a quirk of fate, he got separated from his father. He was all at sea, alone, half-naked, and crying for his parent, who he did not know was in detention.

Lorena Garcia, 23, eats breakfast with her two-year-old son Wilder in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Reuters

The poor boy was found by federal agents on a deserted Mexican highway near a truck carrying migrants who were trying to make a dash for the US border.

After spending almost 20 days in the custody of the Mexican authorities, he was flown to Honduras, where he was reunited with his tearful mother, Garcia. Overjoyed relatives of the boy in the impoverished town of Cabanas welcomed him with cake and firecrackers.

For the mother, the relief was very palpable, as the long anxiety-ridden wait for her son was finally over. She was over the moon in having her son with her. She said she would never let him go again. 

The boy's relatives greeted him with a sign reading  "Welcome back Wilder."

Garcia hopes her husband comes back soon to be with them.