Dailerys Dalmau was already reeling from the news that her common-law husband Wesley Aponte, was shot dead in a supermarket near their home in Rio Pedras, a suburb of San Juan. The 27-year-old mother had two sons and was pregnant with her third.

“We don’t know if he was shot on purpose or if it was random,” said Dailerys’ sister Analee Dalmau, 25.

Then the storm hit.

Dailerys Dalmau and her son Jedniel. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico in September 2017, devastating the U.S. territory along with Dominica and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dailerys Dalmau and her three sons; 9-year-old Jedniel, 5-year-old Wesley and 2-year-old Mathias came to Springfield that November to stay with Dailerys’ cousin after the Category 5 storm.

Jedniel, 9-years-old, lost his father two years ago and was deeply affected by the loss. He stopped talking for almost a year and was held back at school as a result. Now he is being re-assessed. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Wesley, 5-years-old, is happy with his new life in Springfield and is looking forward to getting back to school after the summer break. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Gov. Charlie Baker’s Deputy Communications Officer Sarah Finlaw estimated that at least 7,000 Puerto Ricans migrated to Massachusetts after Hurricane Maria swept through the island territory.

Two years later, many families have left to go back to the island. But others have also made new lives for themselves with the help of local non-governmental organizations. It hasn’t been easy.

Mathias was born just before the hurricane hit and had a skin condition similar to eczema called atopic dermatitis. The medication on the island was in short supply, expensive if you were able to find it, and the water supplies became contaminated with salt water, which all made managing the condition difficult.

Jedniel holds out a memorial for his father who was shot in a supermarket in Rio Piedras, San Juan just before the hurricane. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

After losing his father, Jedniel had some problems at school and was put back a year so he could catch-up.

“He didn’t talk for awhile after his father was killed,” said Analee. “It really put him behind in his development.”

Analee and her eldest nephew, Jedniel sit on the bed and talk after finishing work. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Much higher levels of PTSD in Puerto Rican youth as a result of the hurricane have been documented in a study carried out by the Juma Network.

“Many people have been affected by the Hurricane,” said Nereida Mercedes. “My granddaughter has isolated herself since Maria and doesn’t want to go back to the island.”

Mercedes’ grandchildren, 15 and 16 years old, have both shown signs of stress from the storm and are receiving support from the Gandara Mental Health Center.

Her granddaughter has shown more severe symptoms.

Mercedes came to Springfield in December 2017, with her husband, and two grandchildren.

“Our house was completely flooded,” said Mercedes. “All four of us were trying to scoop the water out but it was no use. We lost everything.”

The Mercedes family traveled to the mainland with only a few bags of belongings.

Nereida Mercedes came over from Puerto Rico in Dec. 2017. Her family's home was almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Maria. She came over to the U.S. with her husband and two grandchildren. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

“We were able to get Federal Emergency Management Agency financial support, which we used to buy tickets off the island,” said Mercedes. “It was only $700 but at least it was something.”

Neither grandchild spoke English before they came to Springfield almost two years ago but now the children are in public school and are fluent in English.

“I don’t speak any English,” Mercedes said through a translator. “But my husband Roberto is having lessons and my grandchildren translate for me here.”

Dailerys also only speaks Spanish and finds it particularly difficult living here due to the language barrier and wants to eventually return to Puerto Rico.

Sisters Analee and Daileys M. Dalmau squat on the floor of their new apartment in the heart of Springfield, Massachusetts. Two-year-old Mathias sits between them. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Analee came to help support her sister in January 2019 and was able to find work. She had worked as a tour guide in Puerto Rico and had a good grasp of English, which she said was vital in finding employment.

“It was hard for my sister to live in Puerto Rico,” Analee told MassLive. “She had a nine-month-old baby, the water was contaminated and [she] couldn’t get the medicines for her oldest son's skin condition.”

Each evening when Analee gets back from work, she gives Mathias (the youngest nephew) her tips to put in the savings jar. Analee is saving to buy a car for the family. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Since moving to the mainland to help support her sister and nephews, Analee has also interned at a local non-governmental organization, Pioneer Valley Project.

PVP’s aim is to bring communities together and on the last Friday of each month PVP organizes a meeting for the families that are still here to hear the issues they face and address any problems they might be having.

Analee takes Wesley's hand to walk 10 minutes back home after shopping for food in the local supermarket. "If I had a car it would make things easier, but I don't mind walking," Analee says. "I walk everywhere." (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

“She used to volunteer with us here,” said community organizer Emily Rodriguez. “She was really helpful and was great at speaking to others that had been through similar situations.”

Analee has a job paying the $12 per hour minimum wage and saves as much as she can as well as paying bills, rent and food for her family of five.

“FEMA didn’t help us at all,” said Analee. “Because we didn’t own property in Puerto Rico, only rented, we weren’t eligible for assistance.”

Analee hold her youngest nephew outside her apartment that ward one city Counciler Adam Gomez helped her find. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

With the help of Springfield City Councilor Adam Gomez, they were able to find an apartment.

“We were driving to see apartments in Holyoke, Chicopee and Springfield, but it was tough with the language barrier,” said Gomez. “Landlords want to be able to communicate with their tenants. We were finally able to find a place in Springfield with the assistance of Home City Housing and Way Finder.”

“[Adam] has helped us a lot,” said Analee. “I work full-time to support the family and we are looking for childcare so my sister can work too.”

Adam Gomez, a Springfield council member and one of the organisers of the Boricua Solidarity Rally, outside the U.S. District courthouse. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

“Our mother is hoping to come and join us over here eventually,” said Analee. “But my sister misses her friends, the beaches and [the] weather back home.”

“I’m going to stay whatever, this is my home now.”