The tragic news of the passing of young Damir Ortiz has profoundly shaken the Cuban community both on and off the Island. The social media has been flooded with messages of grief, disbelief, and solidarity towards the family of the young boy, whose story has touched very sensitive chords in the hearts of many.
At just ten years old, Damir became a symbol of struggle, tenderness, and unity among Cubans who, from various corners of the world, rallied to support him during his illness. His passing has sparked a wave of reactions on social media, where friends, family, activists, and anonymous citizens have expressed their sorrow over such an irreplaceable loss.
One of the most resonant voices has been that of activist Lara Crofs, who closely followed the case and shared a message filled with indignation and pain on her Facebook profile: "They have turned a 10-year-old boy into a martyr! We will not forget. The pain, the anger, the frustration we are feeling is proportional to the desires for Justice and Freedom that we Cubans have."
Visibly shaken, Crofs also asked for "space, respect, and a great deal of solidarity for Eliannis (Damir's mother). This is an extremely difficult moment, one that we knew could have been avoided." Her appeal has been echoed by dozens of users who share the call for justice and empathy towards a mother shattered by grief.
Art has also echoed suffering. The Cuban rapper Omar Mena paid tribute to Damir with deeply emotional verses that have touched thousands:
"Fly high and let the clouds be made of caramel,"
Mommy's love cuddles you up there in the sky.
May there be many toys, and may you be able to see them all
that living is more than just existing; when you leave, you go alone,
that here everyone is left without hope of any comfort.
And we trust that you will be the one to bring a little shine to the moon,
that your life was short but filled with abundant love.
"Grow, stronger and stronger, child, around the planet."
Many have shared images and heartfelt words to remember the little one. "An angel who leaves too soon," "fly high, Damir," are some of the messages flooding platforms like Facebook.
Cuban community groups, both on the Island and in exile, have made a call for solidarity and respect during the mourning of the child's loved ones.
For the moment, it is expected that family or close friends will provide more details regarding the upcoming steps related to the funeral or farewell events.
Damir Ortiz, at just ten years old, faced multiple health challenges from an early age. He was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow in the nervous system.
This condition caused him to develop a plexiform neurofibroma in his right eye, affecting his vision and leading to severe eye inflammation. Additionally, he was diagnosed with acute leukemia and suffered kidney damage, complications that significantly deteriorated his quality of life.
On March 12, Damir was transferred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, not without first overcoming the bureaucratic hurdles of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), which initially refused to provide the necessary documentation to obtain a humanitarian visa, arguing that resources were available on the island to treat the child.
Upon arrival, American doctors ruled out the diagnosis of Burkitt leukemia that had been given in Cuba, highlighting mistakes in previous medical care.
At 5:00 a.m. on this Saturday, April 5th, Damir passed away at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. The news was confirmed by activist Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia, who expressed:
"Our warrior resting with the Lord! There are no words to describe such pain!"
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