With Silva’s parents and siblings remaining in Africa and only a few relatives in the United States, Sacks began looking after Silva. “I basically grew up by myself,” said Silva, who had seen his parents and siblings only once since arriving to the United States before a surprise December reunion with his mother in Miami. “So he used to invite me to his house during the holidays to come and spend time with him and his family. I remember I used to say no all the time. But he insisted. When I started going there, the first time it was alright. The second time, I started to like doing it because it was kind of fun. It became like a ritual throughout high school.”