The Life-Altering Encounter: A Migrant's Journey and a Lone 9-Year-Old Boy in the Arizona Desert

In the Arizona wilderness, as the sun set behind the desert mountains, a young boy stood on a remote road, clutching a shattered mirror.

It was Thanksgiving Day in 2007, and 9-year-old Chris Buchleitner found himself in a crisis. The mirror had broken off his mother's van moments earlier, when she lost control of the vehicle and they plummeted down a steep hill. His mother was now trapped in the mangled van in the canyon below. Chris managed to free himself from the van and climbed up the hill in search of help.

They were just a few miles away from the Mexican border when Chris spotted a Border Patrol helicopter, sparking a glimmer of hope in him. Sadly, the helicopter was nowhere to be seen and his mother's cell phone was out of range. Chris felt a sense of loneliness and fear as he struggled to come up with a plan. As the sun began to set, a stranger approached him.

The man had crossed the border from Mexico, hoping to start a new life despite facing the dangers of being separated from his fellow travelers and the criminals that lurked in the desert. Despite the challenges, he remained determined to reach Tucson or Phoenix and secure a job that would allow him to support his family in Mexico.

Now this man had a choice to make.

He could keep going, safe for now from the Border Patrol, and leave the boy on his own.

Should he choose to stay and assist the boy, he would be taking a risk of being captured by the same individuals he had been avoiding for the past three days. Manuel Cordova's decision would have lasting implications for both of them. In the future, this choice would become part of the controversial national discourse surrounding the pros and cons of illegal immigration, sparking intense debates in the years to come.

Reeling from tragedy, a mother and son take one last camping trip

As dusk descended upon Forest Service Road 39, the debates of politics became inconsequential. In that moment, there was simply a young boy in need of protection, a woman in need of rescue, and a man who seemed to be their sole savior.

Chris has always been puzzled by the events of that day. It's unclear whether the sun blinded his mother or if the road itself collapsed, but for some reason, she lost control of the van and panicked. As the van careened down the hill, Chris clung to the back seat for his life, feeling as though time had slowed down. Although he had always enjoyed camping, he had a sense of foreboding about this particular trip. He couldn't pinpoint the reason why, but he knew that the carefree family trips they once took across the American West would never be the same.

Chriss father had passed away that September. Now, Chris and his mother, Dawn Tomko, a biology teacher, were pushing through on their own. Chris expressed his reluctance to go camping to his mom. However, Dawn, a former park ranger, was eager to immerse herself back into nature.

Chris Buchleitner and his mother, Dawn Tomko, went on many camping trips together, like the one shown here.

Courtesy Buchleitner family

In Rimrock, Arizona, she prepared for another Thanksgiving week trip, bringing their dogs Tanner and Jade. After a mountain-biking adventure, their van veered off the road on the way back to their campsite.

The van landed in a canyon, coming to a stop against a tree with the engine still running. Chris, from the back seat, turned off the ignition as his mother struggled for breath, possibly unconscious and unable to exit the driver's seat. With her arm badly cut, Chris wrapped it in a blanket before informing her that he would go for help.

Chris grabbed some essential supplies including binoculars, his mother's flip phone, and the van's disconnected mirror. The terrain was difficult, causing him to slip and scrape his knees, but he persevered and eventually made it back to the road. There, he was overjoyed to find his dog Tanner unharmed. It seemed that Tanner had managed to escape the van just before it rolled down the hill following the crash. Tanner's presence provided Chris with a sense of security, given his size and strength. As they began walking down the road, they came across a man wearing black pants and a black sweatshirt.

Chris initially feared an attack from Tanner, so he secured the binoculars strap through Tanner's collar. However, Tanner appeared to understand that the man was not a threat.

Even though Chris had been taught by his parents not to interact with strangers, he found himself in a unique situation and asked the man for help. The man seemed perplexed, and it soon became apparent that there was a language barrier. He then presented an ID card and indicated his name: Manuel, who also went by Manny.

Manuel took off his sweatshirt and wrapped it around Chris' shoulders. He could only say a few words in Spanish, but he tried to communicate the situation. The van was green, so he said "verde." It was speeding down the hill, so he said "rapido." Despite any language barriers, some things were clear. It was getting colder, and Chris was only wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

After days of hiding from authorities, he does everything he can to draw their attention

The man in black wasnt alone when he left Magdalena de Kino.

The charming Mexican town is a well-known destination that attracts large crowds every year for its celebrations honoring Saint Francis Xavier and Father Kino, a Jesuit priest who established numerous missions in the area. However, on a November morning in 2007, Manuel Jesus Cordova Soberanes and approximately 30 others from Magdalena set out on their own journey, leaving town in search of opportunities they couldn't find at home.

The town of Magdalena de Kino in Sonora, Mexico is known for its historic mission that attracts thousands of pilgrims to celebrate Saint Francis Xavier and Father Kino. However, over the years, some residents, including Manuel, have left in search of employment opportunities.

Finding work was a challenge, even the more respectable positions like the one Manuel held at a factory producing surgical scrubs only paid around $100 per week.

At 26 years old, Manuel was struggling with a lifestyle of partying and drug use. However, he was also a father, and recognized the importance of providing for his family.

With two daughters and a third child on the way, Manuel joined a group leaving in November, heading towards the border about 60 miles north. His plan was to travel to a major city in Arizona and find whatever work was available. Having been caught and sent back before, Manuel was determined that this time would be different - he was going to make it across the border and stay.

He had spent days evading the authorities, keeping out of sight whenever he heard voices, shouting, or saw flashing lights in the distance. Once, Manuel had even hidden under vegetation for hours. But now, he found himself alone, heading north. Unexpectedly, he came across a little boy standing on the dirt road ahead. The sight reminded him of his own children, who were the same age as the boy, Chris. In that moment, Manuel knew he would want someone to help his own children just as he was about to do for Chris.

After handing the boy his sweatshirt, Manuel made his way down the hill to check on the woman. From outside the battered van, he could hear her breathing heavily. But he couldn't see her or figure out how to reach her. He came to a devastating realization: There was no way to pry open the driver's-side door, and even trying could make a perilous situation worse. The vehicle had rolled over into a canyon, but not all the way to the bottom. It was teetering like a seesaw on the slope of the ravine. Manuel tried to stabilize the van with branches and stones. There was still much further it could fall.

Police and fire officials displayed this photo of the crushed van at a ceremony honoring Manuel Cordovas heroism in December 2007.

KVOA

He gathered a large pile of wood on the roadside and started a roaring fire for warmth and as a signal for help. He had been in hiding for days, but now his focus had shifted. Manuel was doing everything possible to attract the attention of the American authorities.

Chris couldn't stop worrying about his mother, alone in the canyon below. However, the hill was too dangerous for a 9-year-old to navigate in the dark. So he settled by the fire, using his dog Tanner as a pillow, and eventually drifted off to sleep.

Throughout the night, Manuel repeatedly went back to the van to monitor Chriss mother's condition. Despite being unable to release her, he could still detect the sound of her breathing. However, on one of his trips to the van around midnight, he noticed the absence of her breathing.

Help finally arrives. So does the Border Patrol

After returning to the road, the flames continued to rage as the boy slept through the long night. When morning came, two hunters in a pickup truck happened to pass by. Manuel stopped them and they were equipped with a satellite phone. One of them dialed 911, and the call was successfully connected.

Manuel could have continued on to Tucson or Phoenix with assistance on the way. However, something inside of him had shifted overnight and he realized that he needed to stay put and wait for the ambulance to arrive and take Chris to safety.

When the ambulance arrived, firefighters also showed up and found Jade the dog near the canyon as they worked to pull the van up the steep incline.

Local and federal authorities also arrived at the scene. Manuel reported that he was initially placed in handcuffs by a Border Patrol agent, but they were later removed after speaking with Chris. The agent apologized, stating, "Forgive us, but it's my job. You are in the country illegally."

"Of course," Manuel had said calmly. He felt a sense of relief knowing he was going home. He made just two simple requests: a cigarette and to stay at the scene a little longer. His hope was to witness the recovery of the van by the rescue crews, still holding out hope that Chriss mother had somehow survived.

As her body was finally extracted from the wreckage, Manuel didn't need anyone to tell him what had happened. He could see the firefighters signaling to each other: Chriss mother was gone.

Manuel's mind wandered to his recently deceased grandmother, his father who had suffered a recent stroke, and Chris's mother, whom he couldn't save, as he made his way back to the Border Patrol truck. Tears welled up and began to fall.

Chris Buchleitner was 9 years old when 26-year-old Manuel Cordova spotted him standing alone on a desolate road in the Arizona desert.

Buchleitner family & Jeffry Scott/Arizona Daily Star/AP

Amidst the busy morning rush, Chris missed the opportunity to bid Manuel goodbye before he was taken away by paramedics. However, the firefighters, who had learned about Manuel's heroic act, found a unique way to say their farewells - they erupted into a round of applause.

Manuel returned to Magdalena quietly and kept what he had seen in the desert to himself. A few days after his deportation, his father approached him with a worried question: "What have you done?"

Word had spread that people from the north were searching for Manuel, and the mayor even wanted to meet with him. His father learned this from the mayor's chauffeur, who happened to be his friend.

Manuel informed his father about the car accident, his efforts to assist the young boy, and his attempt to rescue the mother. They then made their way to city hall. To his astonishment, less than two weeks after being deported from the US, Manuel found himself crossing the border once more, this time as an honored guest at the Nogales Port of Entry.

The police officers, firefighters, and diplomats were all present to welcome him, as well as a group of reporters who had caught wind of the story and were eager to spread the news. One by one, officials presented him with plaques inscribed with his name, commending his bravery and altruism. The local fire chief even gifted him a small stuffed horse, likening Manuel to the Lone Ranger as a hero in the wilderness. The top Mexican diplomat in the Arizona border city praised Manuel for his selflessness and for setting aside his own needs and aspirations.

Manuels mother sat beside him, wiping tears from her eyes.

Manuel had so much to say that day, but as a would-be immigrant, the sudden attention was overwhelming. When a TV camera turned towards him, he shyly smiled and covered his face with a manila folder. When he finally had the chance to speak, all he could manage to say was "Thank you."

An orphaned boy moves to Pennsylvania

Manuel didn't see himself as a hero. His thoughts were with the absent people. The news reports after the accident revealed details about Chris's life that Manuel hadn't known that night in the desert. He wondered about Chris's well-being now, and what would become of the young boy who had lost his parents.

As a baby, Chris Buchleitner's parents devised a plan for the worst-case scenario. With his dad, Jack Buchleitner, being one of 10 children from a large Catholic family in Pittsburgh, they reached out to Jack's sister Mary Butera with an unusual request: if anything were to happen to both of them, would she take care of Christopher?

"It was like, Of course!" his aunt exclaimed in a CNN interview.

So, when something did happen to both of his parents, Mary and Vinny Butera took care of Christopher. He relocated to Pittsburgh and was raised there by the large and affectionate Buchleitner family. Another aunt even took in his dogs, Tanner and Jade, and Chris visited them on a regular basis for the rest of their lives.

Chris struggled to cope with the loss of his parents, describing the feeling as a hole in his chest. However, he eventually came to terms with his new reality and dedicated himself to working hard. Despite initially coasting through high school, he eventually pursued a degree in nursing at Duquesne University, following in his mother's footsteps.

Now 25, Chris is employed as a nurse at UPMC Shadyside hospital in Pittsburgh, where he specializes in caring for heart patients. Although the job is demanding and emotionally taxing, Chris finds fulfillment in his work, cherishing the connections he makes with his patients. The once troubled boy has found purpose in helping to save the lives of others.

Chris Buchleitner is now nearly the same age Manuel Cordova was the day they met. Hes working as a nurse in Pittsburgh, specializing in heart patients.

Austin Steele from CNN reported that despite the long shifts, Chris's work schedule has its perks. With only three days at the hospital, he has four days to explore and enjoy the outdoors. He recently spoke with a reporter by phone on a Friday as he headed to Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia, where he intended to boulder on the sandstone cliffs.

His mother had ambitious aspirations for him, wonderful destinations she hoped to show him. One of them was the North Cascades National Park in Washington state, renowned for its towering glaciers and jagged mountain summits. It was deemed too risky for a 9-year-old. However, in September, Chris ventured out to explore the North Cascades. And there, amidst the cold winds and rugged magnificence, he thought of her.

Today, Chris rarely discusses the events of 2007. While his closest friends are aware of the details, most of his colleagues are not. Nonetheless, he continues to dwell on Manuel, the man in black.

Chris is nearly the same age as Manuel was at that time. He often ponders about the whereabouts of the man who protected him. Even as he grew older, he refrained from searching for old news stories, assuming they would be too distressing to read. He is unaware of what happened to Manuel after that fateful night. However, if they were to reunite, he would express his gratitude by saying "Thank you."

A turning point on a mountain road, and a new life in Mexico

Manuel never asked for the fame that briefly found him.

But for months, even years, after that day in the desert, reporters kept calling.

Strangers often appeared unexpectedly at Magdalena's city hall, including immigrants. Manuel would receive a call informing him of people who were eager to meet him. He understood that some viewed immigrants as criminals, but he hoped that through his own story, people would recognize the common humanity often overlooked in the ongoing debate.

Manuel thinks he did what anyone would do in the same situation. But many others have told him thats not what they see in his story.

Manuel Cordova sits for a portrait in his Mexicali, Mexico home, reflecting on the lasting impact of his encounter with Chris Buchleitner. "It's something that has stayed with me," he shares.

The immigrant who gave up his dream to help a stranger on Thanksgiving Day is revered in accounts that have become legendary. Ministers include his story in sermons and op-eds praising selfless Good Samaritans, and a writer-composer duo even created a musical about his act of heroism. Despite this, 16 years later, some people in his hometown still recognize him as the hero of Magdalena. Manuel sometimes wonders if he would have preferred to stay out of the spotlight and instead obtained a visa to work legally in the United States, rather than receiving plaques and recognition.

This is not the first time such rewards have been given. In the past, victims of crimes and individuals who assist with trafficking investigations have been able to receive special visas. A few years back in France, an undocumented immigrant climbed the side of a building to rescue a child hanging from a balcony. As a result, he was granted citizenship and honored with a gold medal from President Emmanuel Macron.

Arizona congressman Raul Grijalva introduced a bill to provide Manuel with the opportunity to live and work in the US legally. However, the bill failed to advance beyond the congressional committee, resulting in Manuel losing hope for ever attempting to cross the border again. This experience led him to discover unforeseen resilience within himself.

Manuel now resides in Mexicali, a border city, located hours away from Magdalena. He is working in a bazaar and describes his life as starkly contrasting to his previous one in the Arizona wilderness.

Upon a customer's arrival, he eagerly welcomes and engages in friendly conversation, making direct eye contact. Since returning to Mexico, Manuel claims to have left his drug use in the past. He attributes this change to the impactful night in the desert, which led him to a clearer understanding of himself and his role in the world, not as a hero, but as a man.

Manuel came to the realization that he had been on the wrong path for years. He had neglected his kids and even spent time in jail for failing to pay child support. Upon returning to Mexico, Manuel reconnected with his family. Now 42 years old, he has seven children and four grandchildren.

In a recent photo, Manuel Cordova is seen posing with his 12-year-old son, Eythan. Cordova, who is now a father of seven and a grandfather of four, shared that he thought of his own children when he encountered Chris Buchleitner in the Arizona wilderness.

Courtesy of Manuel Cordova, he continues to ponder Chris's well-being and considers the different scenarios if they had not crossed paths. Rather than contemplating an alternate future in America, he questions how his life would have changed if he had come across a crowbar or another tool to open the van. He also wonders if he could have saved Chris's mom.

At times, he awakens in the dark, clutching the edge of his blanket. In his dreams, he is still struggling to pry open the van door.

Although the story has faded from the headlines over the years, Manuel continues to field questions. Nowadays, they are more likely to come from astonished friends who play on soccer teams with him in Mexicali and stumble upon a photo of the ceremony he once posted on Facebook.

"Just like the reporters…asking and asking," Manuel says. Always with the same incredulous inquiries.

Why did you stop? 

What was it like? 

If you could do it over again, would you make the same choice?

That last one is easy for Manuel to answer.