Survivor of Cuban Accident Seeks Humanitarian Visa, Reports Medical Negligence

A 42-year-old Cuban woman, identified as Maite, is seeking a humanitarian visa to leave Cuba for specialized medical treatment after alleging medical negligence in two Havana hospitals. The plea was publicized from the United States by Osvany Sánchez, the founder of the Facebook page "Pesca en Miami." Alongside former boxer Lino Tomasén, known as "The Cuban Iron Man," they are calling for solidarity to help Maite leave the country and receive treatment abroad.

In a video shared on social media, Maite expressed her desperation, stating, "I don't want to stay in Cuba. I need a humanitarian visa to avoid surgeries on my bladder that could kill me." She accused the Fructuoso Rodríguez Orthopedic Hospital and the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital of medical negligence, visibly distressed by her situation.

Her medical condition has worsened to the point of developing sores, yet she claims she cannot share images because platforms like Facebook censor them. "I'm 42 and was healthy before. This is all due to medical negligence," she emphasized. Maite also appealed for financial help, saying, "If anyone can help me with even a small contribution, I ask for it."

Tomasén mentioned plans to launch a fundraising campaign, potentially through GoFundMe. The Pesca en Miami page urged, "If you can help Maite or know someone who can assist with a humanitarian visa, contact me at 786.685.9365 for her information."

The activists are urging the Cuban community abroad to provide immediate support to Maite, who fears for her life under the Cuban healthcare system. In another emotional video, Maite described her living conditions after being discharged without necessary treatment. "I had to use napkins to dress my wounds, where bones are exposed. I can't show that video because it's too graphic. Only God knows what I'm going through," she shared.

Maite has no medical supplies or medication and claims she was sent home to die without further medical options. "They won't do anything more for me here. They discharged me without any cure materials or medication," she lamented. Clearly weakened, she explained she suffers from constant diarrhea after extended antibiotic use, which has damaged her intestinal flora: "I need probiotic pills. Please, help me," she pleaded.

She recounted that her sores worsened at the Fructuoso Rodríguez Orthopedic Hospital, where she nearly lost her life. Later transferred to the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, she claims she was also turned away there. "They sent me to Ameijeiras because they knew what happened at Fructuoso. And then they threw me out like a dog," she said, asserting she has evidence on her phone.

Maite disclosed that she has been living with this condition for seven years, always denied surgery for her sores. She was consistently rejected by hospitals labeled as infectious. Now, she's being offered a risky bladder and "trochanters" surgery, which she deeply fears. "They want to close my bladder neck and later operate on my sores as if I'm a horse. I have to sign a paper, and I could die. I don't want that," she stated.

Maite reiterated her desire to leave Cuba for treatment abroad: "I'm 42. I don't want to die. I'm treating my exposed bones with napkin paper. Please, let this go viral. I can't take it anymore. Help me."

An additional story has moved many on social networks. Two disabled brothers require surgery to improve their quality of life, following a desperate plea from their mother, Yaineris Roque. In a video shared on Facebook, Roque explained that her sons, now 21 and 22, began experiencing walking difficulties and leg deformities at ages five and six.

Since then, they have received medical attention at the Frank País, Juan Manuel Márquez, and William Soler hospitals. The mother said their first surgery was on November 1, 2022, over two years ago, yet they have shown no improvement. Frustrated by the lack of answers, Yaineris regularly contacts the Frank País hospital, specifically Dr. Lara, but receives no concrete solutions.

"Everything is a lie; they tell me the operating room is under repair, there's a lack of resources, we have to wait, I must understand the country's situation," she expressed with frustration. "My sons are now 21 and 22 years old, and they've only had one surgery, two and a half years ago, with no signs of improvement," she added.