Yolanda Cardenas Diaz
General Information
Current Name
Yolanda Cardenas Ganong
Current Location
United States of America
Name on Arrival
Yolanda Cardenas Diaz
Age on Arrival
17
Date of Arrival
Saturday, August 4, 1962
Relocated To
CWB Florida City
Stayed With
Espinosa-RdgzHaded-Quesada
Groups
Haiti Pedro Pan
Yolanda has volunteered to help the children of Haiti. Find out how you can help, too.
Yolanda's Story
A story teller once told me that all stories begin in the middle. As I write this, the middle of my story has 17 years on one side and 47 on the other. For thousands of us Pedro Pan children, the midd...
Yolanda's News Feed
Leave a public message for Yolanda.
Oh, Yolanda, what a way you have with words! Your story is heart wrenching!...and again I have to say how fortunate and blessed I was to have spent just 6 months without my family. I think, In a way, being younger during something like this is probably easier because you really don't know what's going on. You, on the other hand, being 17, were fully aware of the time and space in relation to the events surrounding your life at that time. There wasn't much left to the imagination and nothing was hidden from you. Your story brought back a couple of memories I did not include in my story like the part your Dad tells your Mom they have to leave Cuba. It closely parallels my parents' conversation. Also leaving your "Abuelita"; I only had one grandparent, my maternal grandmother and I never saw her again, sadly neither did my Mom. I guess I will keep remembering details and will keep adding little things here and there. My apology at the top of my story is sincere. This database is a permanent record for the ages and when I reach the end of my recall I can always copy it and print it and have a hard copy for my children to keep. Thank you so much for your comments on my story. I am proud you chose mine to read first. I hope it encouraged you to read more. The more stories I read the more thankful I am for my good fortune. God Bless you Yolanda. All my good wishes to you and your family. A Pedro Pan sister, Mary
Message by
Maria Petronila Hernandez Mills
| Jun 19th 2009
A fantastic story. I understand so much more about you now. And I'm very proud to call you my friend. hugs sss
Message by Sonya S Stewart | Jun 18th 2009
Yolanda....very moving...very well said.
Message by
Susy Rodriguez
| Jun 18th 2009
Yolanda, your account of events is absolutely wonderful! Isn't it amazing how some 50 years later, one's still able to recall past events in such great detail? Undoubtedly, pain has a very unique way of leaving its imprint on one's memory. I'd like to add: A mí también Cuba me duele todavía. Thank you for sharing with us. ¡Qué Dios te bendiga!
Message by Anonymous | Jun 18th 2009
Sorry, I hit the button before signing my name. If you ever come to Miami give me a call!
Message by Maria del Carmen Perez Cancelas (Romanach) | Jun 18th 2009
Hola Yolanda, Your story made me remember many things and especially the end "Cuba me duele todavia" brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your fellow pedropan sister, Carmen
Message by Maria del Carmen Perez | Jun 18th 2009
Thank you, Yolanda. Perhaps these are the houseparents. I'm going to keep checking.
Message by
Gerardo Zuazo Delgado
| Jun 15th 2009
Yolanda,I am so happy you found my name,I just joined. Claro que me acuerdo cuando fuimos a tirarnos con el trineo y a Rico se le congelaron los pies, que memoria tienes.Creo que cuando fuistes a New Orleans miramos juntas la llegada de los hombres a la Luna. Yo estoy tratando de buscar a Vidal Lopez de Albuquerque tambien y Alina Gonzalez te acuerdas.Mi email regular es cgq48@aol.com. Escribeme para recordar y saber mas de ti. Carinos Carmen
Message by
Carmen Guerra Quevedo
| Jun 9th 2009
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