Tragically, young Cuban Damir Ortiz Ramírez passed away on Saturday at Miami's Nicklaus Children's Hospital after battling a widespread sepsis caused by a bacterial infection he contracted in Cuba before managing to travel to the United States for specialized treatment. In a heartrending video message shared on Facebook, Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano disclosed that Damir, who had been hospitalized since March 12, suffered multiple organ failure due to septicemia, which his body developed in reaction to the bacterial infection. "This occurred as a result of the sepsis itself, due to the bacteria's limited response to the antibiotics used," Ruano mournfully recounted.
The doctor clarified that despite the relentless efforts by the medical team at Nicklaus, Damir's life ended at 5:00 am on that fateful Saturday. "It was a terrible night, and I want everyone to know that Damir departed peacefully; his final moments were free of suffering. We experienced immense sorrow, but Damir left this world quite peacefully in those last moments," he shared with the Cuban community, emphasizing that the child did not endure pain before passing away.
Ruano detailed that septicemia is a severe, systemic infection where infectious germs invade the bloodstream, attacking the entire body and rapidly causing organ failure, leading to death. "Even though every possible advanced antibiotic was utilized, there was a significant resistance due to the prior misuse of antibiotics in Cuba," Ruano explained.
Damir's condition deteriorated on Friday afternoon due to multiple organ collapse resulting from the sepsis. "He did not die from his underlying illness, such as cancer," the doctor noted. The child arrived with two bacterial infections, one being pseudomonas, which significantly worsened his condition. According to Diasniurka Salcedo in another live broadcast, Damir had been in critical condition since Wednesday.
"He received excellent care and maximum effort from the Miami doctors," acknowledged opposition member and human rights activist, who was instrumental in the fight to save the boy's life. She also mentioned that Eliannis Ramírez, Damir's mother, is heartbroken. "She can't cope; she is grateful but can't express it," Diasniurka tearfully stated.
Cubans will have the opportunity to bid farewell to Damir Ortiz midway through this week at a funeral home in Hialeah, Miami-Dade County. The funeral services will be held at Caballero Rivero Funeral Home in Hialeah, likely by Wednesday or Thursday. This location, at 373 W 9th St #377, was chosen for its larger capacity, allowing the exiled Cuban community to pay their last respects to the child.
Many compassionate Cubans contributed to arranging the funeral services. Currently, Damir's body is being transported from Nicklaus Children's Hospital to the funeral home's morgue. Dr. Ruano and Diasniurka expressed gratitude for the solidarity and support from all Cubans who have been involved in Damir's case and continue to follow the funeral proceedings.
Understanding Sepsis and its Impact
What is septicemia?
Septicemia, commonly known as blood poisoning, is a severe infection where bacteria enter the bloodstream, leading to systemic inflammation and potential organ failure.
Why was there significant antibiotic resistance in Damir's case?
The resistance was attributed to the inappropriate use of antibiotics in Cuba, which led to the bacteria developing a marked resilience against available treatments.
How did the Miami medical team attempt to treat Damir's condition?
The medical team at Nicklaus Children's Hospital used all available advanced antibiotics and provided exceptional care to manage Damir's condition, despite the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance.