Hours after the death of her son Damir Ortiz Ramírez, the Cuban mother Eliannis Ramírez shared a deep and moving message on her social media.
Written from the depths of the deepest pain, the text published on Facebook reflects the emptiness, sadness, and desolation that only a mother who has fought until the end for her child's life can feel.
Damir passed away early Saturday morning at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, after suffering from severe sepsis caused by a resistant bacteria he contracted in Cuba.
His case moved thousands of people and mobilized activists and doctors who managed to transfer him to the United States on March 12 in critical condition.
A few hours before his departure, after battling sepsis, Eliannis wrote these words, which we share in full for their testimonial and human value:
"When a mother sees her child lifeless in a coffin, she feels as if death is tearing out her insides, her dreams, her hopes, her illusions. She feels her interior becoming an enormous void; she feels death taking away her child and also taking away herself, leaving her a woman distant from life, leaving behind a shell that only wants to set out to find everything that was taken."
When a mother sees her child lifeless, she stops smiling from the heart and learns to paint a smile on her face each day. Her empty body only feels the pain of her soul; she becomes a shadow devoid of the will to live, gazing at the world with indifference. Time passes her by as she lives in death, struggling to carry on, while her heart weeps because she will never again feel her child's heartbeat on this earth. She can no longer look up to the sky and smile; now, she looks to the heavens with eyes clouded by tears, searching for her child whom she can never find.
When a mother sees her child lifeless, she is enveloped by sadness, and in her soul, pain takes root; the spark of her life extinguishes, giving way to a journey of immense sorrow that seeks that final tear of an agony that brings her to the great love of her life—her child. When a mother sees her child lifeless, she settles by their side, and a part of her departs... the part that belongs to that child who will never return.
When a mother sees her child lifeless, she remains incomplete for the rest of her life.
(D. L. W)
Eliannis has requested political asylum in the United States, and her son's ashes will remain in Miami. According to activists close to her, she fears returning to Cuba due to potential reprisals after publicly denouncing the negligence and obstacles they faced.
In this way, she will also always stay as close to him as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions about the case of Damir Ortiz and his mother Eliannis Ramírez
Why has Eliannis Ramírez sought political asylum in the United States?
Eliannis Ramírez has requested political asylum in the United States due to her fear of reprisals in Cuba after publicly denouncing the neglect and obstacles faced in the Cuban healthcare system during the treatment of her son Damir. Her complaint focuses on the shortcomings of the Cuban health system and the media manipulation she encountered after demanding better medical care for her son.
What were the causes of Damir Ortiz's death?
Damir Ortiz passed away due to severe sepsis caused by a resistant bacterium he contracted in Cuba. The lack of access to appropriate antibiotic treatment in Cuba worsened his condition, which led to his death at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, despite the efforts made to save his life after his transfer to the United States.
What complaints has Eliannis Ramírez made regarding the Cuban health system?
Eliannis Ramírez has reported numerous negligence and deficiencies in the Cuban healthcare system, including incorrect diagnoses and a lack of appropriate medications and treatments for her son. She accused the Cuban regime of having declared her son Damir terminal and of violating her family's privacy by manipulating information about her case on Cuban state television.
How has the Cuban community reacted to the case of Damir Ortiz?
The Cuban community, both on the island and in exile, has shown deep compassion and solidarity with the case of Damir Ortiz. They have expressed their pain and outrage over the injustices suffered by the child and his mother, and have mobilized efforts to support them, including fundraising campaigns and appeals for solidarity on social media.
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