Karolina, a Cuban girl who spent over a year and a half living in a hospital due to the lack of suitable housing for her medical condition, passed away this Tuesday in Artemisa, where she lived with her mother.
The three-year-old, who suffered from spinal muscular atrophy, was permanently connected to a ventilator. Last year, it was revealed that she remained in San Cristóbal Hospital in Artemisa because her 27-year-old mother did not have a home equipped to care for her.
A Nationwide Effort to Help
Last year, her story moved thousands of Cubans. In less than a month, they raised $5,000 through the Facebook group "Bendecidos para Bendecir" to purchase a house that met the necessary conditions for her care. Despite these efforts, the young girl's condition remained critical.
Tragic Confirmation
Her death was confirmed by Yoselis Lugo, a social media user who had shared Karolina's story the previous year. "Today has been a very sad day for me. A little girl who touched my heart and many others has left this world unexpectedly. Yesterday, her mom showed me a picture of her smiling, and today I receive this devastating news. Rest in peace, my Karol," she wrote on her Facebook wall.
A Broader Crisis
Karolina's case underscores the severe economic and social crisis in Cuba. Requests for assistance through social media to obtain medications, medical supplies, and even housing for vulnerable individuals are becoming increasingly common.
This heartbreaking incident sheds light on the systemic issues plaguing the country, where the government's inability to provide basic necessities continues to impact the lives of its citizens profoundly.