The young Cuban, Lester Domínguez, who has been unable to walk for over a year after being brutally attacked with a machete during a robbery in Holguín, is "showing good progress" in his rehabilitation at the Julio Díaz Hospital in Fontanar (Boyeros), Havana.
According to his father, Dennis Domínguez, Lester is "in good health" and is experiencing "more sensitivity in his body." He maintains some movement in his ankles, knees, and can kneel and rise as if performing a squat. As expected in such a process, the young man "tires very quickly," which limits his performance. "We need to keep working to build more muscle and fat in his body," his father notes, emphasizing that Lester has an incomplete spinal cord injury at the C5 level and "needs to work on both upper and lower limbs and strengthen his core."
The family hopes that Lester "continues to improve" and that "God continues to work miracles along with the doctors."
On June 26, Lester Domínguez arrived at the national rehabilitation hospital, Julio Díaz, in Havana, after spending a year and three months unable to take a step. The family struggled to get him admitted to this facility, and at one point, the young man asked his father to take him out of Cuba to receive the treatment that could restore mobility to his legs. His father even considered leaving through Nicaragua to avoid constantly asking relatives abroad for help.
Lester began his rehabilitation at Julio Díaz on July 19 of this year, coinciding with his 19th birthday. He started with the hope of walking within a few months. This birthday was different from the previous year when he celebrated adulthood surrounded by friends while dealing with a tracheostomy. He had a back sore that took months to heal, but it eventually did. This year, his progress is even more significant.
Lester Domínguez was 17 years old when he was assaulted in March 2023 for a Huawei cell phone. After the machete attack, he was admitted to intensive care and survived but did not walk again. His attacker, identified as Adrián Grass Bermúdez, the ex-boyfriend of Lester's sister, was tried in May of this year. Dennis Domínguez feared that since the person accompanying his son on the day of the attack committed suicide, they might blame him for everything and let the aggressor go free.
At the end of the trial, where 20 years were requested for Adrián Grass for the assault on Lester and an additional four years for the theft of four phones, the father recounted seeing Adrián on a bicycle with a machete, covered in Lester's blood, on the night of the attack. Additionally, the stolen cell phone was found buried in the yard of Adrián's house.
Lester Domínguez's Rehabilitation Progress
Here are some frequently asked questions about Lester Domínguez's journey and the challenges he faces in his recovery process.
What kind of injury does Lester Domínguez have?
Lester Domínguez has an incomplete spinal cord injury at the C5 level, which affects both upper and lower limbs and requires significant rehabilitation to regain mobility.
Where is Lester Domínguez receiving his treatment?
Lester is receiving his rehabilitation treatment at the Julio Díaz Hospital in Fontanar, Boyeros, Havana.
What progress has Lester made in his rehabilitation?
Lester has shown improvements in his health, experiencing more sensitivity in his body and maintaining some movement in his ankles and knees. However, he still tires quickly and needs to build more muscle and fat.
Who was responsible for the attack on Lester Domínguez?
The attack was carried out by Adrián Grass Bermúdez, the ex-boyfriend of Lester's sister. He was tried and faced 20 years for the assault and an additional four years for the theft of four phones.