The health situation of Damir Ortiz Ramírez, a 10-year-old Cuban boy diagnosed with type 1 neurofibromatosis who has a plexiform neurofibroma on his right eye, worsens with a diagnosis of acute leukemia, communicated this Friday to his mother by Cuban doctors.
In her Facebook profile, Eliannis Ramírez confirmed the unfortunate news and expressed that her son requires all her attention and that she is closely monitoring his progress.
"Right now, the smallest good thing that happens, like having the platelets stay at 38, not bleeding from the nose, or coughing up a little phlegm, is a huge achievement," he stated in his post.
Although she expressed that she is devastated by the leukemia diagnosis, she stated she is "stronger than ever" and felt a sense of peace upon receiving the terrible update. "I felt peace because I have already seen the face of what is killing my son and I am going to fight against this leukemia, you can count on that. Damir and I can handle everything."
Miguel Ángel Ruano Sanchez, president of the Free Cuban Medical Guild, explained in a Facebook video that the type of leukemia that Damir is suffering from has not yet been defined as they need to conduct tests to determine it.
However, according to Ruano, the doctors initially proposed administering chemotherapy without specifying which one.
Subsequently, they promised that they already had the cytostatic serum ready to administer to Damir, even though they do not even know the type of leukemia he is suffering from.
With this, they once again resort to "demagogic politics, the same empty rhetoric we have become accustomed to from them," Ruano stated.
In the latest update on the child's health, Ruano, who participated via video conference in this Saturday's medical report, mentioned that the directors of the Neurology Institute, where the child is hospitalized, and the Hematology Institute appeared in the room.
According to the doctors, they assessed the possibility of transferring Damir to the Hematology Institute because it is a "newer" hospital, after the child had already been moved from the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital to the Neurology Institute.
"Damir is not a ping-pong ball; he is not leaving the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery under any circumstances. There, he has what he needs: his intensive care room, his intensivist, everything he requires. They have shown us that. He will stay there; you can move here as you have done so far," Ruano replied.
The battle for the visa
On her part, the activist Yamilka Lafita, known on social media as Lara Crofs, wrote that following the denial of humanitarian visa by the U.S. authorities, the opposition member Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia has continued to take all kinds of actions to transfer the child to the United States, where he could receive the treatment he needs.
In her complaint regarding the child's situation, Lafita held the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba responsible for refusing to issue a document recognizing that they do not have the conditions to save Damir's life, thus justifying the humanitarian visa to the U.S. authorities.
At the same time, he addressed the authorities of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and claimed, "We know the standard processing time is three to four months, but Damir has an I-130, which is a petition for expedited visa processing."
The United States Embassy in Havana reaffirmed this Friday the denial of the humanitarian visa requested for Damir and his mother, as they communicated on February 6, they are "ineligible."
In a document, they argued that they were unable to demonstrate that the purpose of the trip to the United States is consistent with the classification of the requested non-immigrant visa.
As an alternative, the consular office suggested applying for humanitarian parole, which must be requested and approved in the United States with the authorities of the Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS).
Despite having managed the procedure at a hospital in Miami, Florida, and having started a GoFundMe campaign to raise $40,000 to cover medical and travel expenses, the child still cannot leave the country.
To obtain a humanitarian visa that would allow Damir to move to the United States, it was necessary to have an authorization letter from the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (MINSAP).
Frequently asked questions about the case of the Cuban boy Damir Ortiz and his health situation
What is the current health situation of Damir Ortiz?
Damir Ortiz, a 10-year-old Cuban boy, has been diagnosed with type 1 neurofibromatosis and a plexiform neurofibroma in his right eye, in addition to acute leukemia. His health condition is critical, facing complications such as kidney damage and severe eye inflammation. His mother, Eliannis Ramírez, has reported the lack of adequate resources in the Cuban healthcare system to treat his condition.
Why has Damir been denied a humanitarian visa to receive treatment in the United States?
The United States Embassy in Havana denied the humanitarian visa to Damir due to the lack of adequate documentation from the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (MINSAP). MINSAP has refused to issue the necessary authorization letter for the visa, arguing that Cuba has the resources needed to treat the minor. Without this letter, the visa application does not meet the requirements set by the embassy.
What actions have been taken to help Damir?
Multiple efforts have been made to assist Damir, including a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to cover medical and travel expenses. Activists have raised awareness of the situation on social media and attempts have been made to arrange his transfer to a hospital in Miami, where he can receive specialized treatment that is not available in Cuba. However, the lack of documentation from MINSAP remains a significant obstacle.
What is the Cuban government's stance on Damir's case?
The Cuban government has used Damir's case as an example of its healthcare system, claiming that the country has the necessary resources for his treatment. They have stated that transferring the child to another country could worsen his condition, thus justifying their refusal to issue the required authorization letter for his departure. This stance has been criticized by activists and human rights advocates.
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