The family of six-year-old Cuban boy, Yoslany Herrera López, reached out to Miami’s Nicklaus Children's Hospital Foundation and the office of Republican Senator Marco Rubio, seeking urgent assistance to save the child’s life. Both responded promptly with interest in the case.
As reported by CiberCuba, the family is in dire need of a humanitarian visa to help save Yoslany, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. His condition is aggravated by severely damaged lungs and malnutrition. While this illness is chronic elsewhere, as his mother, Katy López, points out, it is often fatal in Cuba.
Cuban doctors have bluntly informed her that there is nothing more they can do to save Yoslany, but she refuses to give up. Initially, the family turned to Florida’s Jackson Health Foundation, hoping for a miracle, but after receiving no response, they approached the Nicklaus Children's Hospital. The Miami-based pediatric hospital immediately showed interest in the boy’s situation.
The hospital has requested a medical report detailing Yoslany's diagnosis, photographs of him and his parents, and health insurance, which his relatives in Florida are willing to secure to save him. The family also contacted Senator Rubio, whose office in Florida confirmed receipt of their request and promised a response soon.
With this glimmer of hope, Yoslany's family has initiated the process in Cuba to obtain the humanitarian visa that could potentially save his life. Diagnosed at the age of two with this genetic disease primarily affecting the lungs, Yoslany has been hospitalized 69 times since then.
Katy López’s desperation echoes that of another Cuban mother, Arlety Llerena Martínez, whose seven-year-old son, Jorgito Reina, is battling cancer and urgently needs a bone marrow transplant. Such procedures have not been available in Cuba for some time, as explained to the family by medical professionals.
Jorgito has been waiting nearly a year for a humanitarian visa. Senator Rubio personally intervened to expedite the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) process, but his involvement reportedly angered officials in Havana, leaving the case unresolved.
CiberCuba reached out to USCIS for information on protocols in life-or-death situations, but had not received a reply at the time of publication.
Humanitarian Visa and Medical Assistance in Cuba
What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and other organs, leading to severe respiratory and digestive problems.
Why is a humanitarian visa important for Yoslany?
A humanitarian visa would allow Yoslany to receive potentially life-saving treatment in the United States, which is not available in Cuba.
What role does Senator Marco Rubio play in these cases?
Senator Marco Rubio has been involved in advocating for humanitarian visas for Cuban children needing urgent medical care, including actively pressing USCIS to expedite processes.