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With great sadness, Cuban activist Yamilka Lafita (Lara Crofs) announced the passing of baby Rafael Junior Chávez Carrera, just eight months old, who was in critical condition at the William Soler Hospital in Havana due to severe liver failure and renal complications.
"With deep sorrow, we share the sad news that little Rafael has departed. His small body could no longer endure, but his light, his tenderness, and his brave struggle will forever remain etched in our hearts," Lara wrote on on Saturday.
Two days before his death, the baby experienced acute kidney failure and an aggressive bacterial infection that compromised his overall condition and led him to a critical state.
More than 24 hours passed without urinating, a sign that his kidneys were starting to fail.
The doctors warned that if he could not urinate, the damage to his organs would be irreversible.
An aggressive bacterial infection localized in the kidneys triggered a severe systemic inflammatory response, also compromising her neurological system.
Despite treatment with antibiotics and diuretics to prevent cerebral edema, the child's condition quickly worsened.
The case of Rafa, as he was affectionately called, had moved thousands of people in Cuba and abroad.
The child was diagnosed with idiopathic neonatal hepatitis in his first month of life, a rare disease that, rather than stabilizing as happens in some cases, progressed to severe liver failure.
After being initially treated at hospitals in Ciego de Ávila, he was referred to William Soler, where doctors confirmed the urgent need for a liver transplant, a procedure that is not performed in Cuba.
Her mother, Yanet Carrera, was a compatible donor, but the health authorities did not provide a viable alternative.
For weeks, his family tirelessly fought to save him. They urgently requested help through social media and independent media in the hope of obtaining a humanitarian visa to transfer him to Spain.
The child's father, Rafael Chávez, begged for help to take him to another country where he could receive treatment.
"My son wants to live. He needs to live. He deserves a chance. His liver has stopped functioning, and the only thing that can save him is a transplant. I am a compatible donor, but in this country, these transplants are not performed. The only solution is to get him out of the country as soon as possible," she pleaded.
Doctors at La Paz University Hospital expressed their willingness to receive him, as happened previously with Amanda Lemus Ortiz, the Cuban girl saved thanks to an international solidarity campaign.
Unfortunately, that opportunity didn’t arrive in time for Rafa.
His death has caused a wave of grief and solidarity on social media.
"Rafa doesn't leave completely. He lives on in every hug we shared, in every gesture of empathy, in every voice that rose to ask for help. His time in this world, though brief, touched many lives," concluded Lara Crofs in her farewell.
His family, friends, and all those who stood by him in his battle will remember him as a true warrior of light.
Frequently asked questions about the health situation in Cuba and the case of Rafa
Why was the liver transplant not performed in Cuba?
Organ transplants are not performed in Cuba due to the lack of resources and medical capabilities in the country. This has been a recurring issue affecting many patients who require complex procedures that cannot be addressed locally.
What illness did Rafa suffer from?
Rafa was diagnosed with idiopathic neonatal hepatitis, a rare disease that in his case progressed to severe liver failure, requiring a liver transplant to survive.
What was the Cuban government's response to Rafa's situation?
Despite the fact that Rafa's mother was a compatible donor, the Cuban health authorities did not provide a viable solution to carry out the transplant abroad, which resulted in the inability to save his life in time.
How have similar cases to Rafa's been handled in Cuba?
Similar cases to Rafa's, such as that of Amanda Lemus, have been handled through international solidarity campaigns that have allowed patients to be transferred to other countries for necessary treatment. However, bureaucracy and the lack of resources in Cuba hinder these processes.
What impact has Rafa's death had on the Cuban community both locally and abroad?
The death of Rafa has generated a wave of grief and solidarity on social media, with many people expressing their frustration and sadness over the lack of medical solutions in Cuba. His case has highlighted the deficiencies of the Cuban healthcare system and the need for international support for critical cases.
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