The family of Elaine Mesa Alazo, a 60-year-old Cuban admitted to intensive care in Havana, has made an urgent appeal to acquire a biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which, as they explained, she requires due to the severe deterioration of her heart.
Her daughter Lily E. Mesa requested help this Wednesday on Facebook and stated that her mother had been admitted to the cardiac care unit at the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery in Havana for three days.
According to the explanation, Elaine suffers from heart failure that has significantly reduced her heart's functioning capacity, in addition to severe arrhythmia, angina, left bundle branch block, and atrial flutter.
"Currently, my mom has been in intensive care in the cardiovascular unit for three days now. I need help. Please, at least share," wrote Lily.
The daughter stated that her mother's heart would be functioning at around 30% and that she currently has cardiac dilation, fluid accumulation in the lungs and abdomen, and very low blood pressure.
According to the family account, in 2024 Elaine underwent a catheter ablation procedure and achieved a favorable recovery that allowed her to lead an almost normal life for a time, although with limitations.
His condition worsened again after contracting chikungunya in August 2025.
The family asserts that the illness caused significant pulmonary complications and also worsened their heart problems.
Due to the deterioration of his condition, the doctors determined, according to the family, that he needs the implantation of a biventricular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) with two leads.
However, their relatives assure that the device is currently not available in Cuba and that they have also been unable to obtain it through a donation.
The search did not start now. On August 29, Elaine herself had turned to Facebook to ask for help.
"I am urgently looking for a bicameral DAI, it's for me. I'll buy it, I’ll accept it as a donation, whatever it takes. My family and I are going crazy trying to find this device," he wrote then.
The woman stated that she has her medical history to demonstrate the necessity of the device and explained the urgency she is facing: "There are none at the Cardiology Institute, they are not being admitted. Every day my time is running out and I feel worse."
A day later, another plea from the family once again requested help to obtain the equipment, stating that they have been waiting for the device for over a year with no availability in Cuba.
"I have no choice but to take this step and turn to the world for help," the message states, which also requests information about churches, charitable organizations, groups, or any means to acquire the device.
The family has also opened a fundraiser to try to purchase the defibrillator in Mexico. Lily explained in the comments that they have already found a clinic in that country where they could acquire the equipment, but the cost exceeds the family's financial means.
Although several of those comments were published from Elaine Mesa's profile, Lily clearly stated that it was she, the patient's daughter, who was writing from that account.
"I am Lily [...] my cousin is the one taking her to see if we can buy it as soon as possible. I already found it in Mexico, let's see if we can make it," she explained.
In another message, she emphasized: "Hello, I'm Lily, your daughter. We have already opened it, it's in the profile. Thank you for the help," referring to the fundraising.
The family explained that they are specifically looking for a bicameral ICD and noted that, according to the information they received for its acquisition, it could involve equipment from manufacturers such as Biotronik, Medtronic, or Abbott. Any acquisition must comply with the specifications indicated by the doctors attending to Elaine.
The case arises amidst a prolonged shortage of devices and supplies for cardiac patients in Cuba.
By April 2024, at least 100 Cubans remained hospitalized awaiting pacemakers and another 1,500 needed these devices, according to data released at the time by the mediCuba-Europe network.
The organization launched a campaign to acquire between 300 and 400 devices.
Although a pacemaker and an implantable automatic defibrillator serve different functions, both reflect the difficulties in accessing essential cardiac devices on the island.
The dependence on international donations has also become apparent recently.
In April 2026, a solidarity convoy from Italy arrived in Cuba with equipment for diagnosis, respirators, defibrillators, and other medical supplies intended for hospitals, especially in eastern provinces affected by Hurricane Melissa.
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