A solidarity campaign is urgently seeking help to raise the necessary funds for the trip and treatment in the United States for the Cuban boy Damir Ortiz Ramírez, 10 years old, who has a tumor in one eye that risks his life.
The open fundraising on the GoFundMe platform aims to give “a chance at life” to a child who was diagnosed with type 1 neurofibromatosis and has a plexiform neurofibroma in the right eye, treated with chemotherapy and radiation, in addition to leukemia under investigation, as explained by activist Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia, who is organizing the aid request.
Eliannis Ramírez, the mother of the minor, pleaded for help in a Facebook video this Sunday, to get her child out of Cuba as soon as possible so he can undergo surgery.
Damir is currently admitted to the intensive care unit of the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital in Havana, presenting kidney damage and woke up this Sunday with both eyes swollen, independent activists and journalists reported on social media. The family is requesting a medical diagnosis of his current condition.
“Here’s how Damir is today; he has kidney damage, his other eye is swollen, how long until the diagnosis?????? Please help by sharing and donating if you can, time is running out for us, please,” insisted Salcedo Verdecia in a post.
In the account set up on GoFundMe, the activist highlighted little Damir's struggle against those “severe illnesses” and pointed out that he has already been accepted to receive treatments at a hospital in Miami, Florida, as they are not available in Cuba.
The goal of the campaign is to raise $40,000 to cover the treatment expenses as well as travel costs. Salcedo Verdecia expressed gratitude in advance for the support to "be able to save this child who deserves to live."
In August 2023, the case of Damir came to public attention. He resides in San Miguel del Padrón, in Havana, and was receiving care at the Marianao Pediatric Hospital.
On that occasion, Salcedo Verdecia explained that in Cuba the case is not operable and has no type of treatment because, "according to Cuban neurosurgeons, the child's tumor has spread to the cavernous sinus, a part of the brain that is inoperable."
The activist requested urgent assistance to obtain a humanitarian visa that would allow Damir to travel to another country for surgery, and warned of the risk that the child could lose his life if he does not receive treatment.
The mother of the minor reported on social media the precariousness of the healthcare system in Cuba and the government's dealings in medical care in the country.
Ramírez stated that she felt desperate about the health situation her son is facing and asked the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel how much she needed to pay to have the child operated on in Cuba.
In November of that same year, the young woman was one of the main participants in the protest by several mothers in front of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) in Havana, where they demanded prioritized medical attention and better quality of life for their children, who were patients with serious conditions.
Ramírez also raised his voice in September 2024 to denounce that the child’s dietary regimen—consisting only of milk, not meat—had expired and the doctors informed him that they could not renew it because his tumor is benign.
Hours after sharing a video on Facebook, Damir's mother reported that the doctor at the clinic finally renewed the diet, but the Food Control and Distribution Office (OFICODA) did not accept it because such a diet can only be authorized by a specialist. Outraged, the mother demanded an immediate solution from the authorities.
Frequently asked questions about the campaign to help the Cuban child Damir Ortiz Ramírez
What is the health situation of Damir Ortiz Ramírez?
Damir Ortiz Ramírez has an eye tumor that puts his life at risk. The boy has been diagnosed with type 1 neurofibromatosis, has a plexiform neurofibroma in his right eye, and is under examination for leukemia. Currently, he is suffering from kidney damage and is hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital in Havana.
Why does Damir need treatment in the United States?
Damir needs to travel to the United States for treatment because there are no options in Cuba to operate on his tumor, which has spread to the cavernous sinus, an inoperable part of the brain according to Cuban neurosurgeons. The patient has already been accepted for treatment at a hospital in Miami, Florida.
How is money being raised for Damir's treatment?
The activist Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia has organized a fundraising campaign on the GoFundMe platform. The goal is to raise $40,000 to cover Damir's travel and treatment expenses in the United States. The campaign seeks donations and the spreading of the cause to reach the necessary target.
What complaints has Damir's mother made about the healthcare system in Cuba?
Eliannis Ramírez, mother of Damir, has denounced the precariousness of the Cuban healthcare system and the lack of available treatments for her son. She has complained that the Cuban government prioritizes business over medical care and has publicly demanded that President Miguel Díaz-Canel inform her of the cost to operate on her son in a private clinic in Cuba.
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