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The activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia reported this Monday that the chemotherapy treatment given to child Damir Ortiz in Cuba was not only incorrect, but also significantly worsened his health condition.
In a message posted on Facebook, Salcedo harshly criticized the medical decision, stating that “my heart was never wrong” and that he warned multiple times that this treatment was not appropriate.
In her post, which includes a screenshot of a conversation with Eliannis Ramírez (Damir's mother), the activist explained that, in addition to an inaccurate diagnosis, a chemotherapy treatment was imposed that, instead of benefiting the child, caused a significant deterioration in his condition.
"I felt that it wouldn't be good. But they made sure of the opposite, and he indeed started chemotherapy, which instead of helping him, would harm him," she expressed, who maintains direct communication with Eliannis.
Despite this, Salcedo emphasized that Damir is in a recovery phase, although slow and complicated, due to the condition in which he arrived.
Salcedo's struggle was essential to achieve the transfer of Damir from Cuba to the United States, where he is currently receiving quality medical care that has helped save his life.
With this statement, Salcedo criticizes the "medical impotence" and emphasizes the need to revise the diagnostic and treatment protocols in Cuba to prevent other patients from suffering similar consequences.
Meanwhile, Damir's family and supporters are hopeful that, despite the setbacks, his recovery will continue and a substantial improvement in his health will be achieved.
Current situation of Damir
Damir Ortiz continues to improve positively at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami. On Saturday, it was reported that doctors identified and treated a new bacteria in his body, while his lungs continue to show signs of improvement.
Hours later, it became known that the 10-year-old boy, does not have leukemia, as determined by the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Havana in February.
According to his mother, Eliannis Ramírez, her son underwent new tests that completely ruled out the diagnosis of Burkitt's leukemia.
Damir suffers from neurofibromatosis type 1, a condition that led to the development of a plexiform neurofibroma in his right eye, which affects his vision and causes severe eye inflammation.
Additionally, he has faced other complications, including kidney damage and a significant drop in platelets and hemoglobin, which have caused bleeding and the need for transfusions.
Damir's story has been marked by a tough struggle to access the medical care he needed.
Thanks to the efforts of activists like Salcedo, Aylín Díaz, and Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano, the child was transferred from a hospital in Havana, where his health was deteriorating without an adequate solution, to Miami in an air ambulance.
The family and the team that supported them had to overcome bureaucratic and economic barriers to manage the humanitarian visa for Damir and his mother, in addition to the necessary permits for their evacuation.
His condition was so serious that a commercial flight was unthinkable, making it essential to hire an aircraft equipped with specialized medical assistance. Thousands of Cubans supported the cause at all times.
Frequently asked questions about the case of Damir Ortiz and medical care in Cuba
How did chemotherapy affect Damir's health in Cuba?
The chemotherapy administered to Damir Ortiz in Cuba was incorrect and, instead of improving, significantly worsened his health condition. According to activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia, the treatment was not only inappropriate but also caused a noticeable deterioration in the child's condition.
What was the correct diagnosis for Damir Ortiz?
Damir Ortiz does not have leukemia, as initially diagnosed in Cuba. The correct diagnosis is neurofibromatosis type 1, a condition that led to the development of a plexiform neurofibroma in his right eye, affecting his vision and causing severe eye inflammation.
How did they manage to transfer Damir to the United States?
The transfer of Damir to the United States was made possible thanks to the mobilization of Cuban civil society, which raised funds and overcame bureaucratic barriers to manage his humanitarian visa. Activists and citizens came together to secure the funding for an air ambulance, allowing Damir to receive the specialized medical treatment he needed in Miami.
What is Damir's current situation in the Miami hospital?
Damir Ortiz is at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, where he is receiving quality medical care. He has shown signs of improvement, such as the identification and treatment of a new bacteria in his body, and his lungs are showing signs of recovery. His mother, Eliannis Ramírez, expresses confidence in his recovery.
What criticisms have been made of the Cuban healthcare system in this case?
The case of Damir Ortiz has sparked strong criticism of the Cuban healthcare system, particularly regarding the lack of proper diagnoses and treatments. Activists have denounced "medical impotence" and the urgent need to review the diagnosis and treatment protocols in Cuba to prevent similar consequences for other patients.
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