Two girls from Havana found themselves in a situation of extreme vulnerability following the death of their mother, a 20-year-old who passed away from leukemia and bone cancer. Meanwhile, their grandfather, the only caregiver, is seeking help to keep them together, as revealed on social media this Friday.
The young mother passed away after battling an illness that was detected when it was already at an advanced stage, according to her father in several videos shared on Facebook by content creator Yai Savón.
The maternal grandfather recounted that for four months they did not realize the seriousness of the condition until the young woman was transferred to the Institute of Hematology in Havana.
"We saw the illness very late, they sent her home so that she would pass away," she asserted through tears. According to her testimony, the young woman survived only seven days after returning home.
After his death, the man was left in charge of his two granddaughters, but he stated that he lacks the basic conditions to care for them. The family does not have a stove or refrigerator and cooks on the street, in front of a church in their neighborhood.
"We do not have decent housing conditions, we do not have a stove, and we do not have warmth. We lack many things and cook on the street. We go through a lot of hardships," he revealed.
The only income he receives is a state subsidy of 1,500 Cuban pesos, which he must use to meet the needs of the children. The dire circumstances also forced the separation of one of the girls from the household, placing her "on the list," the elderly man explained.
The father of the minors is currently fulfilling mandatory military service and cannot leave his duties without authorization. For this reason, their grandfather publicly requested that the authorities grant him leave so he can return and take care of his daughters.
"Those were her wishes, that he would be here helping me, because I am old, I feel tired," he expressed.
According to Savón, the young woman expressed her last wish to be cremated and for her ashes to remain in the family home. Meanwhile, her two daughters were left facing a vulnerable situation after their mother's death.
Those who wish to help the two girls can contact Savón through their Facebook profiles, where the videos were posted under the tags #yaiycarliayudan and #cubanosporelmundo, along with phone numbers.
The case adds to a series of similar situations that have shaken Cubans in recent months. In recent weeks, 45 children with cerebral palsy in Cuba received care thanks to citizens' solidarity in the face of state neglect.
Additionally, a nine-year-old girl in Santa Clara was facing a crisis due to a lack of supplies for her hemodialysis. In all these cases, the diaspora and content creators on social media have filled the void left by the State.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights estimated in August that 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, and that nearly 34% of households had a member who went to bed hungry in the 30 days prior to the study.
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