The Cuban boy Damir Ortiz Ramírez, whose case touched the hearts of the community both on and off the island, has finally arrived in Miami, United States, on a medical airlift to receive treatment, following weeks of struggle, countless bureaucratic obstacles, and an intense aid campaign led by his mother, Eliannis Ramírez, and civil society.
“5:53 a.m. Cuba time. #SOSDAMIR has just taken off on the way to Nicklaus Children's Hospital. Cuban civil society has just managed to save another child. We have achieved an unprecedented victory in the history of Cuba. Thank you, Cubans,” said activist Yamilka Lafita, known on as Lara Crofs.
In recent hours, activists from Cuban civil society have been reporting step by step on the transfer operation of the minor from Havana to Miami. Having moved to Miami International Airport (MIA), Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia managed to film the arrival of the air ambulance.
“Here comes our boy! Our boy is in the land of toys! We promised you,” posted the activist on her social media, sharing a video of the aircraft landing. Previously, Salcedo Verdecia shared videos and photographs of the American medical staff who traveled to Havana to prepare for the patient's transfer.
A path full of obstacles
Damir's ordeal began in mid-February when his family made a desperate plea for help due to the worsening of his health condition.
The boy had been transferred to the Neurological Hospital of Havana on February 13, where his condition became more critical after being diagnosed with a new illness that complicated his clinical picture.
Damir, 10 years old, was diagnosed with a series of serious medical conditions that have significantly compromised his health. Initially, he was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow in the nervous system.
This condition led to the development of a plexiform neurofibroma in the right eye, affecting his vision and causing severe eye inflammation.
Subsequently, his situation worsened when he was diagnosed with acute leukemia, which exacerbated his health condition and required urgent medical attention. Additionally, Damir has faced further complications, including kidney damage and a significant drop in platelets and hemoglobin, leading to episodes of bleeding and the need for transfusions.
These conditions placed Damir in a critical situation, requiring intensive care and specialized treatments that are not available in Cuba, which led to efforts to transfer him to the United States in search of the necessary medical attention.
The mother of Damir, in desperation, Launched a campaign to transfer him to the U.S., where he could receive specialized care that was unavailable in Cuba.
However, the obstacles began immediately. On February 6, U.S. authorities denied the humanitarian visa, a devastating blow for the family. The Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) also made it difficult for the family, with repeated denials and obstacles throughout the process.
Despite this denial, the child's mother did not give up and, with the support of thousands of Cubans both on the island and abroad, continued to insist on obtaining travel authorization.
On February 19, in a desperate attempt to save her son, Damir's mother made a heartbreaking public appeal for help to be able to leave the country. Her plea resonated with activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens, who began to push for a solution.
Solidarity and struggle against bureaucracy
At the beginning of March, Damir's health deteriorated dramatically while he was in intensive care in Cuba.
Although the Cuban community in exile and on the island mobilized to raise funds, the bureaucracy again created obstacles. On March 7, finally, Damir received the humanitarian visa that would allow him to travel to the U.S., a crucial step in his fight for life.
However, just when it seemed that everything was resolved, new barriers emerged. The lack of a bank account in the minor's name delayed the payment for the air ambulance, creating further uncertainty.
Her mother, exhausted and distressed, had to navigate endless procedures to unblock the process. Cuban civil society rallied to help, organizing collections and applying pressure on social media to expedite the child's departure.
On March 8, it was announced that the funds for his transfer were secured, but on March 9 more obstacles with the exit permits emerged. It seemed that each small progress brought new barriers imposed by state bureaucracy.
An unprecedented act of solidarity
On March 11, in a final show of solidarity, Cubans on the island mobilized to donate blood and help the child before his departure. It was an act of brotherhood and resistance, a reflection of the spirit of Cuban civil society that, faced with the inefficiency of the system, decided to take matters into their own hands to save Damir's life.
Finally, after weeks of anguish and constant struggles, Damir boarded an air ambulance that transported him to the U.S., where he will receive the necessary medical care for his recovery and that Cuban health authorities tried to conceal in order to protect the "prestige" of their public health services.
Her story is a testament to the power of solidarity and the determination of a mother who never stopped fighting for her child's life, facing a system that imposed obstacles at every turn, but could not hinder the will of a people willing to save an innocent life.
Similar cases: The story of Amanda Lemus Ortiz
The story of Damir Ortiz finds a parallel in that of Amanda Lemus Ortiz, another Cuban girl whose life depended on the solidarity and mobilization of civil society to access medical treatment outside of Cuba.
Amanda, diagnosed with biliary atresia, a condition that obstructs the ducts transporting bile from the liver to the intestine, faced a significant decline in her health. In her case, the actions of the Cuban medical authorities also raised concerns.
In early March 2024, she was transferred to Spain for specialized treatment. The doctors at Hospital La Paz in Madrid were impressed by the advanced stage of her illness, which initially prevented an immediate surgical intervention.
After weeks of stabilization, Amanda successfully underwent a liver transplant on March 15, 2024. The operation, in which her father was the donor, was carried out without major complications, marking a milestone in her recovery journey.
Amanda's recovery was gradual. In May 2024, she was able to leave the hospital for the first time since her arrival in Spain, enjoying outdoor walks with her parents. By August of that year, she was already living a normal life in Spain, although she continued to attend regular medical check-ups to ensure her well-being.
However, in November 2024, Amanda faced new complications that required her readmission to the hospital. The doctors attempted to place a stent in the bile duct, but due to the narrowness of the duct, it was necessary to perform an additional surgery in December.
Despite these challenges, her recovery was favorable, and by the end of December, she was showing positive signs, even taking her first steps again.
Amanda's story, like Damir's, highlights the importance of solidarity and collective action. Both cases reflect how the Cuban community, both on and off the island, came together to overcome bureaucratic obstacles and provide these children with the opportunity to access vital medical treatments abroad.
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