The family of Pedrito Calvo clarified this Sunday what happened to the veteran Cuban singer after he experienced a health issue while traveling from Havana to Cali, Colombia, with a layover in Panama, an episode that left him unconscious and caused concern among fans and musicians.
His son, Pedrito Calvo Junior, published a family statement on Facebook in which he explained that they had initially decided to keep the situation private, but chose to provide information after various posts began circulating about the artist's condition.
According to reports, Calvo was traveling on Friday, September 25 from Havana to Cali when, during a layover in Panama, he experienced a health issue that left him unconscious.
"In Panama, they called us from the airport to inform us about the situation," explained his son, who noted that terminal workers informed the family that the singer would be taken to a hospital in the city.
In light of the difficulty of managing the emergency from afar, Calvo Junior reached out to a friend identified as Jane Jeannette, who immediately went to the hospital to locate the musician and accompany him.
According to the statement, the woman was able to stay close to Calvo and manage initial information about his condition, although for privacy reasons, the doctors could only provide specific details to family members or Cuban consular representatives.
Later, the Cuban consul in Panama arrived at the medical center, to whom the artist's passport, phone, and other personal items were handed over, and to whom the doctors were able to provide more detailed information about his condition.
The son revealed that during the episode Pedrito Calvo temporarily lost his speech and mobility, a situation that led the doctors to conduct various tests.
"Papi temporarily lost his speech and mobility, and several tests were conducted and everything is satisfactory except for the hemoglobin," he explained.
According to the family version, the issue was reportedly related to a gastrointestinal virus he had suffered from previously. The doctors also conducted MRI scans to rule out any potential cerebrovascular issues.
Thank God there is no damage, his son stated regarding the results of those tests.
The statement also brought reassuring news: Pedrito Calvo was discharged from the hospital this Sunday.
"In these moments as I write, he has just been discharged," noted Calvo Junior, who added that two brothers are with the singer in Panama and will take care of his follow-up until he is fit to travel again.
The family especially thanked Jane Jeannette for her help, as well as the support received from other friends in Panama, from the Cuban Consulate, the Cuban Institute of Music (ICM), and the Musicuba agency.
Calvo Junior also expressed gratitude for the numerous calls and messages received after his father's situation became public.
We know that our father is very loved and admired, but it's not until events like these happen that you truly understand the magnitude of how much the public loves him," he stated.
Calvo Junior concluded the statement with a phrase meant to reassure those who were concerned about the artist: “HE'S FINE!!”.
After the family statement, the Cuban Institute of Music (ICM) offered an official version of the events on Sunday, stating that Pedrito Calvo suffered a stroke during a layover in Panama.
According to the institution, the incident occurred on the afternoon of Friday, September 25, while the artist was traveling from Cuba to Colombia. Calvo was attended to at a clinic in Panama City and later was discharged and began his recovery process.
The ICM also noted that the Ministry of Culture and the institute itself monitored his health status in coordination with his family and the Embassy of Cuba in Panama, whose officials assisted with the arrangements and support for the singer.
The institutional version introduces a nuance regarding his son's statement, who explained that the episode was related to an intestinal virus and that subsequent tests ruled out cerebrovascular issues.
Both sources agree, however, that the artist has already been discharged and is in recovery.
Both statements come after Los Van Van publicly requested a round of applause for Pedrito Calvo during a concert and revealed that he was going through a delicate health situation.
During that performance, Jorge Leliebre, known as LeLe, said from the stage: "Pedrito Calvo, the one behind all those hits from Los Van Van, is ill today, he is in serious condition."
The group later published a message in which they sent "a hug," "strength," and "all their affection" to the so-called Sandunguero Mayor, without providing any details about what had happened.
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