In the midst of one of the most severe economic crises gripping Cuba in recent decades, the “Mariana Grajales” Maternity Hospital in Villa Clara celebrated the successful delivery of its second set of triplets this year, completed last Tuesday, October 8th. The state-run newspaper Vanguardia reported that the fortunate parents are Yunia Pérez Ruiz, an education worker, and Ridel Freijo Angeri, a private sector employee.
Living in the Remedios municipality, the couple began fertility treatments locally before being referred to the provincial level. “I underwent several tests and took prescribed medications until I became pregnant,” explained the first-time mother.
The process was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted many services on the island. However, when treatments resumed, the outcome was surprising. “From the first ultrasound, there were three sacs. It was a moment of joy and challenge when Heiber, the radiologist from my area, told me: it’s not just one, there are three,” the 32-year-old recounted.
On August 12th, the mother was admitted to the Special Care unit of the Villa Clara hospital. “I stayed longer here, but my gratitude extends to the Neonatology team and everyone at the hospital involved in my case, followed by Assisted Reproduction experts in the province. The success is owed to all, including specialists from my municipality,” she expressed.
The doctors who performed the cesarean section, bringing Rubí, Jade, and Marit Freijo Pérez into the world, described the 40 to 45-minute surgery as a challenge overcome through collective effort. The three baby girls are developing well, with their weights steadily increasing, admirable given their birth weights of 4.2, 4.0, and 4.6 pounds, respectively.
The last time triplets were born at the “Mariana Grajales” Hospital was in 2020, when Dayana Sifontes Linates delivered three sons named Ángel Daniel, Joel Davis, and Danis Joel.
Most recently, in August of this year, Alicia, José Miguel, and José Antonio Álvarez Fleites were born, children of Dr. Aracelys Fleites León, a specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, and her husband Yosami Álvarez Mora, an agricultural worker. The couple was blessed with these triplets after 15 years of trying and undergoing fertility treatments.