As Juana was driving home from Santa Clarita, she reached out to a friend to see how they were doing. The friend mentioned they were at a car show, and on a whim, Juana decided to stop by. As she pulled into the parking lot and stepped out of her car, John walked up to her and said, “I like your car.” Juana laughed and replied, “Thanks, it’s my mom car.” Not knowing she had a son, John responded, “I have the same one.”

What started as John relying on Juana for rides while his S2000 was getting worked on quickly turned into something more. In return, he bought her food—an easy way to her heart. By her 30th birthday, she “hired” him to be the photographer. From that moment on, people began to realize he wasn’t just the photographer—he was much more.

Over the years, they faced deep heartache together. John lost his grandfather, Manny, and Juana lost her dad. There’s no doubt neither of them would have made it through those losses without the love and support they gave each other.

Shortly after Juana’s father passed, they found out they were pregnant. In April 2023, they got engaged at their daughter’s baby shower, surrounded by family and friends. Just one month later, they welcomed their daughter, Maila Jade (yes—that’s her first name). That July, they packed up their lives and made the four-hour drive to Las Vegas, ready to build a better future and a stronger life for their children.

After moving to Vegas, Makoa returned to public school, and their weeks quickly filled with karate and soccer practices. Somehow, they managed to keep everything together on their own—all while raising a newborn.

Fast forward to the present: after two years in Vegas, they placed an offer on a house, and it was accepted. God’s timing was perfect—the offer was accepted just one day before Juana’s birthday, and they moved in on her older brother’s birthday. None of it would have been possible without the help of Juana’s family, who were already in town for a competition. Since then, they’ve been slowly turning their house into a warm, cozy home—one that’s comfortable for everyone who visits.