Related videos:
The Cuban singer Yeny Valdés, a former member of the legendary orchestra Los Van Van, revealed that she was on the brink of death after experiencing a severe medical emergency that kept her hospitalized for nearly three weeks, between intensive care and regular wards.
In a post made on , the artist explained that the incident occurred on November 2, although she chose to share it only now, when the danger had already passed.
According to her account, she had been experiencing high fever for two days and suspected it was COVID-19. However, her husband, noticing that the fever was accompanied by trembling and that she could barely stand, decided to take her urgently to the hospital.
The doctors warned him that if he had waited one more day, he likely would not have survived.
"If we wait one more day, I won't count on her. It turns out she had a 17 cm abscess on her liver and the infection was starting to enter the bloodstream," she said.
It was a devastating diagnosis that led to a hospitalization lasting 20 days.
Yeny underwent invasive procedures, including catheterization of the aorta to deliver high-powered antibiotics, drainage of fluid from her right lung, and an extended physical recovery process that required her to "relearn how to walk."
"Everything was really intense... but it's over now!" the artist wrote, expressing special gratitude to her husband's family, her family in Cuba, her mother, and various deities of her religious faith.
The message concluded with a special thank you to her husband, Erick Barbería, whom she credited with saving her life for never letting go of her hand for a single second during the process, and with a warning to her followers: "The best medicine is preventive. I'm already in the fight."
Thousands of followers, friends, and colleagues reacted immediately to the post, celebrating his recovery and sending messages of support, solidarity, and wishes for a speedy recovery.
Health issues for years
This new crisis does not occur in a vacuum.
Since 2019, Yeny Valdés has been facing health issues that had already raised concerns among her closest associates and her audience about her physical condition.
It was not until 2024 that she revealed that she suffers from a chronic and irreversible neurological condition, linked to the emotional toll of emigrating from Cuba and adjusting to a new life in the United States.
In 2022, he explained that the condition caused tremors in his left hand, especially under stress or anxiety, and that he needed to undergo semi-annual neurological check-ups to monitor his progress.
In January 2024, he publicly spoke again about his health, admitting that his recovery was progressing slowly and that music and the love of his supporters had become his main emotional support.
"We should take a little trip every now and then to places like this (the hospital), even with our children, to learn to appreciate what we have and stop complaining so much," he said then.
Valdés, who had to leave Van Van when he emigrated to the U.S. in 2017, expressed gratitude to that "great country for the impeccable healthcare."
"May Olofi extend his hand, and may we never lack the will and the medicine to heal those who suffer and grieve," he added.
In April 2025, she joyfully celebrated her acquisition of U.S. citizenship and shared photos with her certificate and the country's flag, a moment that marked a personal milestone amidst a long process of adaptation, emotional challenges, and medical battles.
Today, after surviving one of the hardest challenges of their life, they once again raise their voice not just to express gratitude, but also to send a warning: their testimony adds to the long list of stories that remind us how fragile health can be, even for those who have spent years fighting in silence.
Filed under: