<P> An unlikely father figure, Valentín raises Maggie for six years, giving her a happy, fun, and carefree home . Meanwhile, he also establishes himself as one of Hollywood's top stuntmen to pay the bills, with Maggie acting as his on - set coach and translator as Valentín still doesn't know any English . As Valentín raises Maggie, she forces him to grow up too in his large fears, though he does it only for her own fun . Meanwhile, during a visit to the doctor in which he receives an injection, the doctor confides in Valentín--with Maggie out of earshot--that the treatments aren't working . To hide from Maggie the fact that her mother abandoned her, Valentín writes weekly letters to Maggie from her, detailing various adventures and feats around the world to explain her absence . But Maggie wishes to meet her mother, so Valentín goes to his director, and looks for an actress to play "Julie". Before the casting is complete, Valentín gets a call from Julie saying that she is in Los Angeles and wants to meet . </P> <P> Julie, now in a relationship with a woman, tries to be a part of Maggie's life again, along with her girlfriend Renee who she lives with in New York, but after a tearful departure at the airport Julie realizes she doesn't want to just see Maggie during visits and holidays . She files for custody and cites Valentín's dangerous job and lack of English skills as reasons that he is unfit to raise Maggie . Valentín's sincerity and the story of his daring ten - story jump convince the judge that he has Maggie's best interest at heart, and he awards custody to Valentin as he is the only parent she has really known . Not backing down, Julie asks for a DNA test which proves Valentín isn't the father after all . Valentín ends up losing legal custody of Maggie, but they sneak away and decide to go back to Acapulco where he reunites with his friends, although he discovers that his father died a few years ago . </P> <P> Julie and Renee threaten Valentín's director to bully him into revealing Valentín's location, who repeatedly claims he doesn't know where the father and daughter are . Eventually he relents and states that Valentín has woken up every day not knowing if it would be the last day he would see his daughter, but the details are not revealed on - screen . Julie finds Valentín and Maggie on the beach and has surprisingly dropped her attempts to gain custody . Instead, the three enjoy time together as a family in Acapulco while in a voice - over Valentín narrates how doctors can sometimes discover a heart defect for which there is no cure and which could kill the patient any time . As Valentín and Julie sit on the beach with Maggie falling asleep in Valentín's lap, Maggie peacefully passes away, which reveals that she, not Valentín, was the one with the heart defect . </P> <P> One year later, Valentín is seen walking down the beach, with a dog but without Julie, narrating that he now understands his father's motives in wanting to prepare him for the future and give him the courage to face his fears . The film concludes with a vision of Maggie playing in heaven with her grandfather . </P>

Instructions not included what did maggie die of