MAYFIELD, Ky. — Jorge and Yeyshalee Cruz moved from their home country Puerto Rico in 2019 to Mayfield to make a better life for their daughter Alejandra Cruz. The family has been residents of Mayfield for two years but after the tornado that swept their town, they've been forced to move back to Puerto Rico due to their home being condemned.
Along with that, the Cruz family believes because of their Hispanic identity, it's what's best to do.
What You Need To Know
- Jorge and Yeyshalee Cruz are the parents of their daughter Alejandra Cruz
- The Cruz family has been living in Mayfield, Kentucky since 2019 to make a better life for their daughter
- The family is moving back to Puerto Rico after their Mayfield home was condemned
- According to the U.S. Census, Mayfield has a Hispanic population of 15%, is just below the national average of 18%
The Cruz family is living a new reality because their Mayfield home of two years has been condemned from the EF-4 tornado.
Jorge and his wife Yeyshale Cruz worked extremely hard to make a good life for their daughter Alejandra in Mayfield but now they are having to leave it behind.
“She loved this – this cost me like seven dollars from Dollar General. This here is a gift, it’s broken right now so it’s kinda hard," said Jorge Cruz.
The Cruz family moved from Puerto Rico to Mayfield, specifically for their daughter Alejandra. Both Jorge and Yeyshalee worked long hours at factory jobs to keep their daughter as their number one priority, often spoiling her.
They’re closing their Mayfield chapter and leaving behind toys and lots of fond memories.
“And right now I feel destroyed, but I ain’t going to cry because I have to be strong for my family. It ain’t easy that was a big tree over there, it fell on the other house,” said Cruz.
Each day after the tornado, the Cruz family looked out of their window to see the disaster that surrounded them, it was re-traumatizing in every single way. Almost every single home on their street was condemned.
The Cruz family's home doesn't have a basement so on the night of the tornado, the family needed to find nearby shelters but struggled due to their being a lack of Spanish speakers.
According to the U.S. Census Mayfield has a 15% Hispanic population, which is slightly below the national percentage of about 18%. Still, Cruz says because of his family's identity, they feel it has been hard to live in Mayfield.
“I have friends who’s Mexican and Guatemalan friends. For me, it feels like they are some people are rude with the Mexican people,” said Cruz.
The Cruz family has to leave a lot of Alejandra’s toys because they can’t travel with them, but she has her favorite toys by her side.
“Who knows if this is going to happen again or not so I am a little scared and I want to take care of my daughter and my wife,” said Cruz.
Jorge Cruz leaves behind his mother and step-father in Mayfield. He hopes they will eventually move back to Puerto Rico with him one day.