The mother of Wisim, an eight-year-old boy bedridden in the province of Sancti Spíritus, made an urgent appeal for help via social media as she is unable to afford the medication, diapers, and special foods that her son needs daily to survive.
The video was shared by content creator David Vela at the request of the child's mother, who described the situation in detail: "I am a mother from Sancti Spíritus with a bedridden eight-year-old child suffering from microcephaly, hydrocephalus, strabismus, Joubert syndrome, and esophagitis."
Wisim is exclusively fed through a gastric tube, so all of its food must be blended and prepared in a special way.
The family faces an additional difficulty that exacerbates their situation: frequent power outages prevent them from keeping food refrigerated.
"It is very difficult for us because of the issue with the power, the items in the freezer, and the meat going bad," the mother explained in the video.
In addition, there are daily expenses for diapers—necessary for him at eight years old due to his condition—and the cost of the medications the child requires: clonazepam and sodium valproate, two anticonvulsants that the family has to obtain from the informal market. "They're extremely expensive; we're finding them on the street," the mother reported.
The Joubert syndrome is a rare congenital neurological disorder, with an estimated prevalence of between 1 in 80,000 and 1 in 100,000 live births, that has no cure and requires lifelong multidisciplinary supportive management.
Sodium valproate has been chronically scarce in Cuban state pharmacies for years. In 2023, the shortage of medications in Cuba reached approximately 251 drugs, close to 40% of the national essential drug list, according to documented data.
The case of Wisim is not isolated. In March of this year, a seven-year-old Cuban boy with hydrocephalus had been in intensive care for two months while his family also requested public assistance.
In May 2023, the family of a boy with cerebral palsy named Raciel requested a feeding tube and a wheelchair because he was bedridden and lacked resources.
In 2020, a Cuban girl in intensive care due to a lack of anticonvulsants was already demonstrating the same crisis of scarcity that currently affects Wisim.
Those who wish to help the family can contact them via WhatsApp at +53 55898008. The child's address is Veterano Interior #78, Olivos, Sancti Spíritus.
"It doesn't matter if the help is big or small," David Vela wrote while spreading the call. "When many people contribute a little, the result can be extraordinary."
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