Eliannis Ramírez, mother of the Cuban child Damir Ortiz, got a tattoo on her arm in honor of her son, who passed away last April after battling a poorly treated Edwin sarcoma on the island.
“For us, it was an immense pleasure to carry out this work. We were filled with emotions, sadness, and also joy as we fulfilled one of the dreams that Damir’s mother wanted to achieve,” wrote the studio Thefatherinktattoo2, responsible for the tattoo, on their social media.
In April, Ramírez reported on his Facebook profile that his son was suffering from a Ewing sarcoma, but he was mistakenly treated in hospitals on the island with chemotherapy for Burkitt lymphoma. The mother claims that this error cost the child his life.
My son had Ewing sarcoma and your murderous doctors administered chemotherapy for Burkitt lymphoma to his spine, she wrote in a message marked by rage and helplessness.
According to reports, Damir underwent several diagnostic procedures—three myelograms and three bone marrow biopsies—that did not accurately identify the illness. Ramírez directly held the Cuban regime and the deteriorated public health system accountable.
"They killed him", he stated, asserting that his son was a victim of a failing system, unable to properly diagnose and treat serious conditions such as childhood cancer.
After receiving treatment in Cuban hospitals, Damir was transferred to the United States, where specialists at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami confirmed that he did not have leukemia, as he had been diagnosed in Cuba.
During that time, Ramírez decided to keep the actual diagnosis a secret to protect the case in the event of a potential legal lawsuit. The activist Diasniurka Salcedo, crucial in managing the humanitarian visa, explained that they avoided disclosing the information so that the regime could not prepare legally.
Frequently Asked Questions about the case of the Cuban boy Damir Ortiz
Why did Damir Ortiz's mother get a tattoo in his honor?
Eliannis Ramírez, mother of Damir Ortiz, got a tattoo in his honor to pay tribute to her deceased son, who suffered from a misdiagnosed Ewing sarcoma in Cuba. The tattoo is a symbol of love and remembrance for Damir, who was unable to receive the appropriate treatment on the island.
What medical error occurred in the case of Damir Ortiz in Cuba?
The medical error consisted of Damir Ortiz being incorrectly diagnosed with Burkitt's leukemia, when he was actually suffering from Ewing sarcoma. This incorrect diagnosis led to inadequate treatment that contributed to his tragic death.
What was the Cuban regime's response to the allegations of medical negligence?
The Cuban regime, through the Ministry of Public Health, defended the care provided to Damir Ortiz and blamed the mother for interfering with the treatment. However, these statements were viewed as an attempt to manipulate information and deny criticisms of the Cuban healthcare system.
Why did Eliannis Ramírez decide not to return to Cuba?
Eliannis Ramírez applied for political asylum in the United States due to the reprisals she feared facing in Cuba after publicly denouncing the medical negligence suffered by her son Damir. Additionally, she wishes to continue her fight for justice and truth from outside the island.
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