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While all of Cuba is engulfed in endless blackouts, a mother raises her voice on social media to denounce her tragedy: her daughter, diagnosed with a genetic illness, cannot leave the hospital because there is no guarantee of stable electricity at home to keep her alive.
Yeilin López Labrador, just a year and a half old, suffers from a degenerative disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (Werdnig Hoffmann).
According to what Alianys Labrador recounted on Facebook, when she was seven months old, her daughter underwent a tracheostomy and gastrostomy, and since then, the little one has been confined to a hospital bed, unable to move, attached to a mechanical ventilator 24 hours a day.
Nine months ago, the family received the good news that the baby was medically cleared and could return home, with the necessary care and requirements that her condition entails.
However, they have not been able to leave due to the terrible situation with electricity. Any power outage—and in areas like Los Palacios, Pinar del Río, where the family lives, outages can last more than 24 hours—could be a death sentence.
Therefore, the only solution for the minor to leave the hospital and live at home is to install a solar panel with backup for her medical devices and air conditioning unit.
"I'm not making this post for financial help, but to reach those responsible, so that they soften their hearts," the mother pleads.
"My daughter deserves to be in her home. Just because she has an illness doesn't mean she should spend the rest of her life in a hospital room, where she is at greater risk of contracting serious bacteria or viruses that could harm her health," she stated.
The case of Yeilin highlights the harshest side of the energy collapse in Cuba.
It's not just about discomfort, broken fans, or food going bad in the refrigerator.
For people like her, continuous access to electricity is a more than vital necessity. However, the family has been waiting for nine months for a solution that has yet to arrive.
The mother states it plainly: "The solution is in their hands." And although she doesn't mention names, she is clearly referring to the authorities of the health system and the government, who are responsible for ensuring minimum conditions for a seriously ill girl to live with dignity, and in her own home.
The state's silence in cases like this hurts more than blackouts. Because the electricity may be gone for hours, but indifference lasts for decades.
Meanwhile, a Cuban girl remains confined in a hospital due to a lack of a solar panel.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Situation in Cuba and Its Impact on Health
Why can't the Cuban girl Yeilin López return home?
Yeilin López cannot return home due to the lack of stable electricity necessary to keep the mechanical ventilator that enables her to live operational. The critical situation of power outages in Cuba means that a prolonged electricity cut poses a lethal risk for her, as she suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 and depends on medical devices that require a constant power supply.
What is the proposed solution for Yeilin to be able to leave the hospital?
The only viable solution for Yeilin to leave the hospital and live at home is the installation of a solar panel with backup that ensures the continuous operation of her medical devices and air conditioning, regardless of the power outages affecting her community.
How does the energy crisis in Cuba affect families with special medical needs?
The energy crisis in Cuba has a devastating impact on families with special medical needs. The lack of stable electricity endangers lives by preventing the operation of essential medical equipment, such as mechanical ventilators. This issue is exacerbated in cases like Yeilin's and others who require constant care and electrical devices to survive.
What do Cuban mothers report about the current situation in Cuba?
Cuban mothers are voicing the daily difficulties they face due to blackouts and resource shortages. The energy collapse and lack of basic services impact the nutrition, rest, and quality of life for many families. These situations are reflected in numerous testimonies shared on social media, where they express their frustration and despair.
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