“At 9 years old, I boarded a plane without my parents. I never imagined the journey ahead would take me from fear and loneliness to becoming an American Cultural Ambassador.”
— Dr. Manuel Prestamo
At just nine years old, Manuel Prestamo boarded a plane in Havana—alone. His parents made the heartbreaking decision to send their young son to safety in the United States as Fidel Castro’s regime took hold in Cuba. Manuel was one of more than 14,000 unaccompanied Cuban children who came to America between 1960 and 1962 through Operation Peter Pan, a humanitarian effort that changed thousands of lives and families forever.
From Cuba with Love: The Story of a Peter Pan Kid, Dr. Manuel Prestamo brings this remarkable chapter of history to life through storytelling, music, humor and personal reflection. He traces his journey from a frightened nine-year-old separated from his parents, to finding a new home in Sarasota, Florida, and ultimately earning his Ph.D. from New York University and becoming an American Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. State Department.
Poignant, sometimes tearful and often funny, From Cuba with Love is much more than a story of exile. It is the story of a child finding his way in a new country, the family and people who helped shape his life, and the remarkable path that followed. Through it all, Manuel shares the music, memories and experiences that connected him to the country he left behind and the country that became his home.
Praise for From Cuba with Love
“Dr. Prestamo’s story brings history to life with rare authenticity and warmth. It’s a living lesson in courage, compassion and what it truly means to find home.”
“Part history, part heart, and entirely unforgettable—From Cuba with Love takes audiences on an emotional journey from Havana to hope, guided by the wit, warmth and wisdom of Dr. Manuel Prestamo.”
