Dubai: Juan Briza, the Dubai mechanic with no fully formed hands or feet, plans to marry the love of his life next year. “I know I am incomplete, but Joan completes me now,” he said.
Gulf News talked to Joan Marie San Diego, who is based in the Philippines, to learn more. She said: “It all started with an exchange on a Facebook group, on November 1, 2015. Juan sent a friend request. He introduced himself as being a Filipino-Pakistani. I asked for his picture, and he obliged. But Juan sent me his Pakistani colleague’s picture, as he was shy to show his real self, due to his disabilities.
“I was not really attracted to him at first, but as we chatted every day, I started to develop this feeling because of Juan’s sincerity and caring nature.”
On November 10, Juan sent his real picture to Joan - a portrait. She said: “I felt bad because he had lied, but then I realised he was being honest now, so I forgave him.”
After five months of constant chatting on Facebook, Juan was due for a vacation to the Philippines. Joan was thrilled, she would finally get to meet him. Juan had mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety. He asked Joan: “Do you really love me?”, to which she replied, “Of course, I won’t wait for you if I’m not in love with you.”
He then asked: “For whatever I am?”
She responded: “Yes.”
They finally met face-to-face on April 9. 2016. Joan was shocked to see him in person. “I was stunned, I was not expecting him to be like this. I was speechless. Then he held my hand ... I felt the spark. I knew I was in love, and accepted him.”
