(Seguin) — Christmas arrived early for one A.J. Briesemeister Middle School student. That’s because her gift was delivered to campus. After being away and serving in Kuwait and Jordan for the past year, U.S. Army Private First Class Jose Leal, came home Wednesday afternoon to surprise his little sister Yasmine Leal during her Spanish class.
Yasmine, who originally thought that the media was on campus for a further look into a class project, says she couldn’t fight the tears as she saw her brother walk down the school’s foyer and into her arms. Following the much overdue hug, the solider lifted up his sister, carrying her tight.
Although, she knew he was coming home, Yasmine didn’t think their reunion would be in front of her classmates.
“I was confused at first. I didn’t know what was going on and then I saw him and I just started crying. I was really excited,” said Yasmine.
Yasmine says when it comes to her brother, there is no better hero.
“He’s always there for me and anytime I’m feeling sad and stuff like that, I tend to call him while he’s away and I talk to him,” said Yasmine.
As for the solider, he says surprising his sister was important. He says they have a bond like no other.
“This is my world right here. As I was talking about my parents earlier, growing up my dad was a truck driver so he always was having to work and then mom had to go to college (and) work and still trying to be a full-time mom so I would help out with just taking care of her at the house and we grew a bond and same with her. Anytime, I feel like I need to talk to someone but like I’m too afraid to talk to friends or parents, I would just go straight to her and just lay in bed and talk about things,” said Jose.
Helping to orchestrate the entire surprise was their Mother Ysenia Leal. Ysenia, a Seguin ISD employee, says the reunion is the best gift she could ever receive.
“They just have this bond that they can’t be without each other. They are always together and her knowing that he was coming home and just praying to make sure that he made it home I think that as a mother, that makes me feel good because I know that they have that bond. I always tell them, If you don’t have anybody else in the world, you have each other. So you have to care for each other, love each other, pray for each other, be there for each other and that’s something that I’ve always told them as they grew up so I think we enhanced that in them — my husband (Jose Sr.) and I — that aside from them being almost eight years apart, they are very close and they spend a lot of quality time together when they are together so I’m very proud of both of them. That’s for sure,” said Ysenia.
With her brother now within an arm’s reach, Yasmine says she can tell her brother exactly what’s been in her heart.
“That I missed you and I always prayed for you every night. I mean I prayed for you. I made sure that you were going to be safe. I prayed for you and I made sure that God was taking care of you,” said Yasmine.
Jose, is currently stationed at Fort Carson, CO. He says although he’ll be returning on Jan. 5, he plans to make every minute count with family especially when it comes to spending time with his sister.
“Oh, we are going to go home and watch Disney Plus because I’ve been wanting to watch Disney and that’s like one of our favorite things to do is watch Disney shows together so we are definitely going to do a lot of that,” said Jose.
The family for the rest of the week and weekend will be enjoying a specially planned family vacation. Ysenia says they’ll return to enjoy the Christmas holiday with even more family and friends. The Leal family thanks those at the middle school who were also in on the plan including School Principal Dr. Benjamin Grijalva.