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Outside a hospital in Arizona, Armando Rubio embraced his husband after days separated from their family and his sick daughter.
Inside the hospital, Rubio’s 13-year-old daughter, Hannah, lies in a bed as she first locks eyes with him, her face blank as she is seemingly shocked to see him. Then her expression softens into a smile as she embraces her father in a video he shared on social media on July 18.
Rubio, known for appearing in the "90 Day Fiancé" franchise with now-husband Kenny Niedermeier, announced in his post that he had reunited with 13-year-old Hannah, who was receiving treatment in a Phoenix intensive care unit after doctors found bleeding in her brain earlier in the month. Two days later, the couple announced "the best news" in a three-part video series: Hannah had been discharged.
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"Ever since Armando got here, oh my god, she has gotten better and better," Niedermeier said. "The doctors were so happy with her progress." Rubio later noted their daughter has not received a diagnosis.
Arizona lawmakers helped Rubio enter the United States and reunite with his hospitalized daughter.
Hannah was flown from Mexico, where the family is based, to Phoenix after she previously fell ill with symptoms similar to a stroke, as he previously said in a July 15 video. Niedermeier accompanied Hannah for her treatment while Rubio sought permission to enter the country.
Rubio had said he could not obtain a humanitarian visa after being told they haven't been available for two years.
The hospital sent authorities documents explaining the gravity of Hannah's situation, Rubio said. He said he arrived with all necessary materials but was turned away without a review.
Rubio credited U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva with advocating for his entry and said U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly was among the lawmakers who provided supporting letters.
"Family, we did it, you did it, I made it to my baby girl," he wrote on Instagram.
How Armando Rubio reunited with his daughter and husband
Grijalva said July 20 that her office worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations to help facilitate Rubio’s travel.
"Every parent should be able to be with their child during a medical emergency," Grijalva said in a statement.
Rubio called his authorization an "emergency humanitarian visa," though the exact process by which he was allowed into the U.S. remained unclear.
Rubio said Hannah was improving and slowly returning to her old self. Doctors had not determined what caused her medical emergency, he said.
A GoFundMe organized by family friend Toni Parker had a goal of $180,000. The fundraiser, which names Niedermeier as the beneficiary, said the money would help cover Hannah’s medical care and the family’s travel between the United States and Mexico. As of July 20, a little more than $173,000 had been raised.
Rubio and Niedermeier appeared together on the second season of TLC's "90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way," a reality show that follows Americans who leave their lives in the U.S. to live with partners abroad. They married in 2021 and returned for Seasons 3 and 5.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: '90 Day Fiancé' star Armando Rubio reunites with hospitalized daughter
