Woman returns from trip to Puerto Rico mixed with sadness and hope

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (WPVI) -- A woman from Cherry Hill has returned home after a visit to her native Puerto Rico for the funeral of her father. She also brought a little sunshine to the storm ravaged island.

"You can't really understand the magnitude of how bad it is until you are there," said Wanda.

Cherry Hill salon owner Wanda Mora has just returned from her 12 day journey to deliver supplies to hurricane victims.

Her father Jose died of a heart attack after being turned away by a hospital with no electricity.

The lack of power added an extra level of pain to the funeral of this Vietnam veteran.

"I could slowly see his body decompose in front of us," Wanda said.

She documented her travels to remote towns on video.

Wanda says in many towns she was the first outsider to visit since hurricane Maria devastated the island last month.

A container full of supplies sent from New Jersey didn't arrive until Thursday, so Wanda used some of the $50,000 in GoFundMe donations collected to buy food and water for storm victims.

Wanda said, "She opened the bag and she sees the water and she starts to hysterically cry. Oh my God I didn't know you guys were going to give me water."

Her trip to Puerto Rico was difficult and emotional, but she's determined to keep raising money and going back to the island to help in the recovery.

"If you have a heart you can't stop. I have to continue this journey until I see that Puerto Rico is back on its feet and it's going to take a long time," Wanda said.

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