In the heart of mid-winter Chicago, the story began at a prosthodontic conference. It was during a coffee break that Jay struck up a conversation with Daniela, asking about her tea preference. Fate seemed to intervene as they crossed paths again at the Cloud Gate sculpture, where Daniela asked Jay to take a photo of her and her friends. Surprisingly, their hotel rooms ended up being adjacent, leading to a plutonic exchange of emails.

Following a 9-month lull, in late fall Jay reached out to Daniela again, suggesting they grab coffee during another conference, this time in Baltimore. Although coffee didn't materialize, the communication evolved to frequent iMessaging, eventually culminating in their first date during Martin Luther King weekend in 2013, sealed with their first kiss on January 18th in freezing Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Navigating Daniela's impending return to Chile and her plans to work in her dad's private practice, they vowed to enjoy the present without getting too serious. Despite the long-distance challenges, the connection deepened, even amidst Daniela's dislike for beer, which Jay discovered during their first New Orleans (NOLA) date at a beer festival.

Just before Daniela graduated, they faced a pivotal decision: whether she would apply for a fellowship in NOLA. If she got in, she would move in with Jay in the Warehouse district for a year; if not, they would part ways. Fortunately, Daniela's acceptance to the implant fellowship solidified their bond, leading them to continue the journey together.

A call from Arun Sharma in the fall of 2014 changed their course, as UCLA sought a Program Director for Maxillofacial Prosthetics. Jay and Daniela made the decision to move to California together, culminating in a civil wedding witnessed by David and Laura Smith on a rainy December day in 2014.

With Arturo and James driving a fiat 500, Mr. Bean, and Daniela and Jay driving Mickey I, they embarked on a cross-country journey to our new home.

Life in Los Angeles seemingly picked up pace. They welcomed the arrival of Isabela in 2019 and Luca followed 17 months later, expanding their family. Now, as they approach their 10th-year civil wedding anniversary, they invite their loved ones to celebrate with them, renewing their commitment to each other and reflecting on the journey that brought them here.

Q + A