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The Cuban activist Lara Crofs is seeking help to save the life of a 10-year-old girl suffering from a rare and painful congenital disease.
The story of Brianna, who lives in Villa Clara, once again highlights the tragic helplessness of the Cuban healthcare system when faced with complex illnesses that require specialized care.
Since the age of two, the little girl has been facing a rare condition: a lingual thyroglossal cyst with a fistulous tract, a malformation at the base of the tongue that partially obstructs her airways.
This condition causes him episodes of suffocation, vomiting, rapid heart rate, extreme pain, difficulty speaking, and even swallowing his own saliva. His health has alarmingly deteriorated in recent weeks.
The minor cannot attend school regularly. Her teachers are afraid she may experience a serious episode during class.
Her mother, completely devastated, tries to keep her stable while time is running against her.
"A 10-year-old girl shouldn't live in fear of choking while eating. A brave girl shouldn't be losing weight because she cannot swallow," wrote Lara Crofs on Facebook.
Brianna has undergone surgery three times in Cuba, but doctors have acknowledged that the country lacks the technology and resources necessary to provide her with a definitive solution.
The malformation always returns, and the available treatments only manage to temporarily relieve the symptoms without stopping the growth of the cyst.
In the face of desperation, the family managed to have a specialized hospital in Miami accept the case.
The surgery that the minor needs is complex and highly precise. The total cost, which includes the surgical intervention, hospitalization, visa fees, and tickets for her and her mother, amounts to $32,000, an amount that is unaffordable for an average Cuban family, especially amid the deep economic and health crisis facing the country.
A broken healthcare system
While the Cuban government continues to boast in international forums about a "free and universal healthcare system," stories like Brianna's reveal a very different reality: a collapsed public healthcare system, lacking cutting-edge technology, basic medications, and the capacity to handle complex cases.
Instead of guaranteeing the right to healthcare, families are forced to seek help on social media, hoping that solidarity will replace what the State has ceased to provide.
How to help?
Lara asked to share the story: every time someone sees it, the chances of support increase.
"Donate what you can: 1 dollar, 5, 10... every bit helps. (...) If you wish to see the medical documents or speak with the family, you can write to us. We are open and available for any questions," he detailed.
A girl's life should not depend on a raffle on Facebook
The most outrageous thing is that the life of a Cuban girl depends on digital charity, while the government allocates resources to propaganda, repression, or grandiose constructions for foreign tourism.
Where is the right to health when a surgery that could save someone's life can only be performed abroad?
Brianna needs urgent help. Her case should not be just another among thousands of silenced stories. She deserves to live without fear, without pain, without being another victim of a system that has stopped protecting the most vulnerable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brianna's Medical Situation and the Cuban Healthcare System
What medical condition does Brianna have?
Brianna suffers from a lingual thyroglossal cyst with a fistulous tract, a congenital malformation at the base of the tongue that partially obstructs her airways, causing asphyxiation, vomiting, tachycardia, extreme pain, and difficulties in speaking and swallowing.
Why can't Brianna receive the necessary treatment in Cuba?
Despite having undergone three surgeries, Cuban doctors have acknowledged that the country lacks the necessary technology and resources to provide a definitive solution to her condition, and the available treatments only manage to temporarily relieve the symptoms.
How is help being provided to Brianna to receive treatment abroad?
A fundraising campaign has been launched to raise the $32,000 needed to cover the costs of surgery, hospitalization, visa processing, and tickets to Miami, where a hospital has accepted Brianna's case. Civic solidarity is the key to achieving this goal.
What is the situation of the health system in Cuba according to this case?
The Cuban healthcare system is collapsed, lacking advanced technology, basic medications, and the capacity to manage complex cases like Brianna's. This situation highlights the contradiction between the official discourse of a free healthcare system and the reality faced by many Cuban families.
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