My son and I moved from the US to Spain. We tried out 3 cities before settling into a place that felt right.

• My son and I moved from New York to Spain seeking affordable healthcare and a better life. • We settled in Barcelona, but language barriers made learning difficult. • Eventually, we found a supportive environment in which we're both thriving in Madrid.

My son was born with a medical condition that doctors said may or may not kill him. In those first months, to keep my sanity, I rescued a plant — a dried-up stick I named Vasily. The plant was free, and I was desperate.

Amidst the sleepless nights, hospital stays, medication dosing, and screaming into the pillow, I cared for the plant (and my son), thinking, in my delusion, that if Vasily were going to live, my son would, too.

My son outgrew his condition by age 3, and, in the search for more affordable healthcare and life, we decid