A young Cuban residing in the United States, identified as Leidy Valle, posted on Instagram a poignant video in which she recounts how the regime’s crisis destroyed her life in the countryside and concludes with a daydream: being able to tell her children that the dictatorship fell in 2026.
In just a few hours, the video garnered over 32,000 views, 7,500 likes, and 600 comments. The testimony begins with a sense of nostalgia. "I really enjoyed living in my ranch, being with my mom, my grandparents, and my little dog. I loved going with my grandpa to the field when we had to check on the corn," says Leidy.
That simple life in Cuba gradually deteriorated until it became unbearable. Power outages took away even the simplest moments.
"Until I could no longer watch the Brazilian soap opera with my grandmother due to the power outages," he recounts. The nights turned, in his words, into "sweating under a mosquito net because there was no electricity."
The scarcity of food also marked his account. "Until I was very hungry and the only thing available for breakfast was a piece of pumpkin. And if we were lucky, for lunch we had yuca croquettes that caused acidity," he recalls.
This was compounded by the lack of basic medications: "Until we could no longer obtain Benadryl (diphenhydramine) to manage my allergy and salbutamol to control my asthma."
The shortage of these medications is impacting about five million Cuban patients with chronic illnesses in 2026, according to data from the island's own healthcare system, whose minister warned in February that the sector is on the brink of collapse.
Leidy Valle also directly targets the official narrative. "At one point, I thought I was going to go crazy hearing the news say 'the revolution is advancing,'" she says bitterly.
The young woman summarizes her experience with a phrase that captures the reality of millions: "I could spend hours here talking about hunger, misery, and need, and not because I am special, it's simply because I am Cuban."
This is not the first time a young Cuban has denounced hunger and misery on social media with a video that goes viral.
The video is released at a time of heightened tension. The White House stated that the Cuban regime "is destined to fall," anticipating a historic change without bloodshed.
Leidy Valle's testimony joins those of other voices, like the heartfelt testimony of a Cuban mother that also went viral recently.
Leidy Valle concludes her video with a statement of hope that resonated with thousands of Cubans both on and off the island.
"Today, for once, I have hope of being able to travel and tell my children about a dictatorship that fell in 2026. I have faith because God never arrives too late, and I feel that this year something will change."
A hope that reflects the different viewpoints of Cubans regarding the potential political change on the island.
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