Related videos:
Madeline Terazon Godina, mother of Nael Caleb Ramírez Terazon, a four-year-old boy living in Santiago de Cuba, made a desperate plea for help to raise funds to cover her son's treatment, who suffers from a tumor in the brainstem that cannot be surgically removed in Cuba.
“Today I reach out to you with my heart in my hand to ask for help for my son. My little boy is only four years old and suffers from a tumor on the brainstem, a very delicate area that cannot be operated on in my country,” wrote Madeline on the GoFundMe platform, where an account was set up to raise the necessary funds for the child's treatment.
"The tumor has progressed, and my son can no longer walk, speak, or take care of himself," lamented Madeline while describing the child's current state, whose condition has severely deteriorated due to the tumor's advancement. "Every day that goes by is crucial. As a mother, it hurts deeply to see him like this and not be able to do more."
After a prolonged search, the family managed to have Nael Caleb's case accepted by the LIV Vadistanbul Clinical Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. "He has now been accepted in a hospital in Turkey where they offer him a chance at life. The treatment there is expensive, so we need help," they explained.
"That's why today I ask for your help. Any contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference and brings us closer to providing the attention needed and the opportunity to continue living. If you can't donate, please share this message. That is also a great help," pleaded the mother.
To receive donations, a relative named Noralie Izquierdo, based in Hialeah, Florida, launched a campaign on GoFundMe on January 7 with a goal of $4,000. Almost five months after its launch, the fundraising has barely reached $558, representing less than 14% of the goal.
Nael Caleb's mother sent a message to the editorial team of CiberCuba in which she recounted her son's case and her efforts to obtain financial support that would allow them to travel to Turkey for the child to receive the necessary care.
"The treatment there is expensive, which is why we need help," she emphasized, adding that the campaign on GoFundMe has been ongoing for months, but "the account isn't progressing," a reason that prompted her to take another step in her fight to "give her baby a chance to continue living."
"I am writing to ask you to promote my story in the hope of raising at least a portion of the money we need," Madeline requested. "I've reached out to several influencers, and none of them have responded."
"I'm desperate," admitted the grieving mother as she described her son's serious condition: "Right now, my boy no longer speaks, cannot walk, and is unable to care for himself, and every day that passes is critical for him."
Those who wish to support Nael Caleb can contact Madeline Terazon Godina at the number +53 55333306, or donate directly through the campaign on GoFundMe.
Brainstem tumors in children are among the most serious diagnoses in pediatric oncology. The location in this area—which regulates vital functions such as breathing, movement, and speech—makes surgery extremely difficult or impossible in many centers.
In Cuba, the healthcare system has developed protocols using the drug nimotuzumab in conjunction with radiotherapy for pediatric brain tumors, according to official information from the Ministry of Public Health. However, the country's health crisis—characterized by the lack of medications, supplies, and equipment, the deterioration of infrastructure, and the precariousness of medical services—has forced many families to seek treatment abroad.
Filed under: