The father of the young Cuban Lester Domínguez once again requested help this Thursday to secure the surgery that could improve the serious consequences his son has suffered since the machete attack in 2023.
Dennis Domínguez stated in a that the more than 13,000 dollars raised in the campaign related to an alleged scam could be recovered after the account was frozen.
The father explained that relatives and close friends are trying to restart the search for a legitimate humanitarian visa or to raise enough funds for Lester to receive surgical treatment outside of Cuba.
The recovery of the money, according to Dennis, occurred after the freezing of the account associated with the questioned campaign. This information comes solely from the father and has not been independently verified. The new campaign on GoFundMe indicates that the money never reached the hands of the young Cuban.
“At the end, he was a victim of a scam, a scam that didn't work because they froze the account and through a claim, they were able to recover the money they had donated to his cause, which exceeded 13,000 USD,” said Dennis.
The episode of the alleged scam unfolded in early August. A woman identified as Loraine, from Las Vegas, reportedly contacted Lester, initially offering him a phone and then assuring him that she had obtained a humanitarian visa for him to travel to the United States. The authenticity of that visa also came under suspicion.
When doubts multiplied, Dennis publicly alerted everyone to refrain from sending more money to the donation link. Days later, the family openly denounced the scam. The relative Orion Cheo urged donors to report the charges to their banks so they could recover their money.
Lester himself posted a video in which he acknowledged the situation: "Apparently, I am a victim of a scam. I don't have anything certain, I don't have proof, but everything is a bit confusing, and I'm asking you not to share the link to the donation account that I posted a few days ago."
Dennis described the emotional impact on his son with a brief phrase: "Now the child is devastated." He added: "We apologize for the scam that was perpetrated against Lester's supporters, who were looking to improve the child's health, which continues to deteriorate, leaving his self-esteem in tatters."
Lester Domínguez Ortiz was 16 years old when he was attacked with a machete in San Germán, Holguín, on March 21, 2023, during a robbery in which his phone was stolen.
The blow to his neck caused a spinal cord injury that left him in a wheelchair. His medical process included serious complications such as mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, bedsores, pneumonia, and bacterial infections.
In August 2025, doctors in Cuba confirmed that he could undergo surgery to correct the problem with his vertebrae, but the operation did not take place due to a lack of resources. This impossibility led the family to explore the option of surgery abroad, which is estimated to require at least 30,000 dollars.
This Thursday's publication represents the family's attempt to get back on track after the harsh setback of the alleged scam, with the hope that the recovered funds and a new legitimate campaign can bring Lester closer to the operation he has been waiting for for over three years.
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