The young Cuban José Jardiel Mejías, who suffered from advanced facial osteosarcoma (cancer), passed away on Saturday after a tough battle against the disease.
The information was shared on by humanitarian activist Norge Ernesto Díaz Blak, known as Noly Blak, who is dedicated to helping those in need in Holguín.
"I've just been informed that the young man from Mayarí has died from facial cancer," he said.
The tragic end of the boy has sparked a wave of grief and reactions on social media.
Nelson Álvarez (El Porfiao), another activist who helped him until the end, shared an emotional farewell message in which he confirmed that the boy's health had deteriorated in recent days.
"Our warrior has passed away, the pain is immense, we are shattered, but we will not cry. Jardiel was a lesson in life for all, of courage and faith, let us all pray for our warrior," wrote on .
"I feel very proud to have been his friend and to have been with him during all those days at the Oncology Center," he stated.
Jardiel's death comes after months of public complaints about his medical situation.
In November of last year, the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) was compelled to issue an official statement after accusations of neglect and medical malpractice circulated on social media regarding the case of a young man residing in the Mayarí municipality of Holguín.
The report was initially spread by activist Adry Díaz, who stated that the boy was in critical condition and lacking proper medical attention.
According to the publication, the young man - a former Greco-Roman wrestling athlete at the provincial ESPA - was battling the illness under extremely precarious conditions.
In response to public pressure, the Health Directorate of Mayarí issued a statement claiming that the patient was receiving medical follow-up from the Polyclinic 26 de Julio and the corresponding family medical office.
The statement indicated that their treatment included medications such as Carbamazepine and Tramadol, along with other drugs to alleviate pain, for which prescriptions had been issued, and they had accompanied a family member to the pharmacy to acquire available medications.
However, the note did not provide clear information regarding the continuation of specialized oncological treatment or about the young man's actual condition.
Adry Díaz stated that Jacdiel was living in extremely difficult conditions and was "in total neglect."
He also detailed that his family had been hit hard by illness and death: his father passed away from liver cirrhosis, his mother and sister died of cancer, and the young man lived with a grandfather suffering from Parkinson's disease.
The case quickly went viral and sparked outrage and demands toward the Cuban healthcare system, particularly due to the lack of medications and specialized care in the eastern part of the country.
The pressure on social media forced the regime to comment, although it did not provide in-depth details about the oncological care the young man received.
Now, following his passing, the public farewell of Nelson Álvarez has once again brought the case to the forefront of the debate, not only as a story of personal struggle but also as a reflection of the challenges faced by many cancer patients in Cuba.
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