From Despair to Hope: Sick Child in Cárdenas Receives Generator Thanks to Solidarity Campaign

Lesdian, a 9-year-old boy with cerebral ischemic hypoxia, will no longer have to face sleepless nights in darkness or the constant assault of mosquitoes.

Thanks to a campaign initiated by the group "Cardenenses en Facebook," the necessary funds were raised to send him an electric inverter, a vital piece of equipment that allows him to keep his fan running during power outages, alleviating the difficult conditions in which he lives.

The initiative, disclosed by Kiryat Poey, the group's administrator, began on June 1st with a post describing the harsh conditions in which the minor lived with his mother, Yaquelin, in a humble home in the city of Cárdenas, Matanzas.

Lesdian cannot walk or talk, and relies entirely on his mother, who lacks resources and institutional support to ensure even the minimum well-being.

During the blackouts, the boy suffered crises that prevented him from sleeping peacefully. His back was covered in mosquito bites, and his mother could not leave him alone for a moment.

"Every blackout is a risk. Every night without electricity is a night of suffering," Poey warned while making the call for help. They were asking for 395 dollars: 245 for the power inverter and 150 for shipping.

While the authorities remained indifferent—despite multiple appeals made by Yaquelin to social workers and state agencies—it was the community that stepped up.

Common people both inside and outside the country made possible, in just two weeks, what becomes unattainable for a Cuban family: gathering the money and getting the equipment to its destination.

On June 17, the campaign's promoter confirmed that the investor was already in the hands of Yaquelin and Lesdian.

"Today, Yaquelin's heart beats with a little more hope, and Lesdian... can rest with greater peace," he wrote.

He accompanied the message with an image of the smiling boy next to his new equipment. For many, it was just another picture. For his mother, it was a vital victory.

Days later, in the same group, a reel was shared with the message: “Lesdian sleeps better… and so do we.”

In it, you can see the little one resting with his fan on and the inverter working.

"A scene that may go unnoticed by many, but for him and his mom, it means the world," the post said.

"We may not change the world... but we managed to change Lesdian's world a little bit. And that is already a lot."

Lesdian's story not only highlights the extreme hardships faced by vulnerable families in Cuba but also affirms the power of citizen solidarity in the face of institutional neglect.

Amidst so many hardships, every gesture matters, and this small relief achieved for Lesdian is a collective victory that should not go unnoticed.

Amid the precarious conditions faced by many Cuban families, numerous solidarity initiatives have emerged that reflect the commitment of the community to the most vulnerable.

A similar case was experienced in Ciego de Ávila, where a girl with disabilities and her grandmother were living outdoors after years of institutional neglect.

His story generated a wave of solidarity and reopened the debate on the lack of protection for vulnerable individuals. From various parts of the country, aid was mobilized to improve their living conditions.

Also in the United States, the death of a Cuban father prompted the immediate mobilization of compatriots who came together to support the family.

The mother and her children cried out for help following the sudden death, and within hours, a support network was established that provided material resources and emotional support.

In Santiago de Cuba, the work of a priest shocked hundreds of people after it was made public that he managed to feed more than 300 people in a single day.

His gesture not only satisfied the hunger of dozens of families but also served as an example of how faith and community organization can make a difference in times of crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions about Citizen Solidarity in Cuba