Just hours after her arrival in the United States, Cuban activist Amelia Calzadilla made her first visit in Miami to Eliannis Ramírez, the mother of Damir Ortiz, the Cuban boy who passed away on April 5 after years of illness.
The meeting, full of emotion, was recounted by Calzadilla in an interview with CiberCuba.
"The first visit I made in this country was precisely to see Diasniurka and Eliannis; I went straight to see them," he said, adding that Eliannis is devastated.
"There are no words to describe how it feels," he emphasized.
A hug in the midst of pain
Amelia wanted to personally convey to the child's mother the support of the Cuban people, both on and off the Island. "I gave her a hug and said, 'Believe me, there are many people who hold you in their prayers and thoughts,'" she said.
Despite the deep pain, Calzadilla highlighted Eliannis's strength. "She is a very strong woman; I was impressed to see her go through all of this and have the coherence to talk to me, to express how she felt," he specified.
The activist commented that Eliannis does not feel guilty; however, she feels there were things she could have done to save her son's life.
"And it is quite the opposite: she did much more than many parents have done," Amelia stated, recalling the risks, pressure, and struggle that courageous mother faced in Cuba to ensure her child received proper medical care.
"There are no words to comfort the way she feels; only time can help balance her emotions. But still, I needed to tell her what our people feel. There is a lot of manipulation, and she needs to feel that the people love her," he emphasized.
The farewell to Damir
The Cuban community in exile will be able to say goodbye to Damir this Sunday, April 20, at the Caballero Rivero funeral home in Hialeah, between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
His ashes will remain in Miami, a city where Eliannis has requested political asylum due to fears of reprisals following his public denunciations of healthcare in Cuba.
Calzadilla asked those attending the funeral to understand Eliannis's emotional state: "She is very grateful, but she is not stable enough to cope with this situation; it is something that overwhelms her," he assured.
A death that exposed a collapsed system
The case of Damir, diagnosed at the age of two with type 1 neurofibromatosis, became a symbol of the healthcare crisis in Cuba.
The minor suffered multiple complications that worsened after contracting a resistant bacteria. According to doctors who treated him in Miami, he did not die from his underlying illness, but rather from the severe infection and the lack of access to antibiotics on the Island.
He was transferred in critical condition to Miami on March 12 following an intense fundraising campaign led by his mother and supported by activists like Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia.
But despite the medical efforts, he/she died weeks later at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
A visit without political motives
Amelia Calzadilla has clarified that her trip to the United States has no political motivations or intentions of staying. It was simply to accompany Eliannis and Diasniurka Salcedo at Damir's farewell this Sunday.
"I came alone for a few days, and I'm returning to Madrid with my family," she explained earlier. From Spain, she had been closely following Damir's case, sharing live broadcasts and messages of support.
Regarding the rumors on social media about his visit, he made it clear that he did not receive any external funding or institutional support to cover his travel expenses.
"Normal workers in the modern world can afford their holidays through the contribution of their modest efforts," he noted.
Frequently asked questions about the case of Damir Ortiz and Amelia Calzadilla's trip
What was the reason for Amelia Calzadilla's trip to Miami?
The main reason for Amelia Calzadilla's trip to Miami was to accompany Eliannis Ramírez, mother of the child Damir Ortiz, in saying farewell to her son who passed away after a battle with a severe infection. Calzadilla has clarified that her trip is not politically motivated nor does she intend to stay in the United States.
Why is the case of Damir Ortiz significant in the Cuban context?
The case of Damir Ortiz has become a symbol of the crisis in the Cuban healthcare system. Damir, diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1, passed away due to severe sepsis caused by resistant bacteria, highlighting the deficiencies and negligence of the healthcare system in Cuba. His mother, Eliannis Ramírez, publicly denounced these issues, which has generated significant social mobilization and solidarity both inside and outside the island.
How did Eliannis Ramírez react after the death of her son Damir?
Eliannis Ramírez, mother of Damir, shared deeply emotional messages on social media, expressing her pain and emptiness after the loss of her son. She has requested political asylum in the United States, fearing reprisals for her denunciations against the Cuban healthcare system. Damir's ashes will remain in Miami, where the Cuban community in exile can pay their respects.
What impact did the fundraising campaign for Damir Ortiz have?
The fundraising campaign was crucial to relocating Damir to the United States and providing him with the specialized medical treatment he could not receive in Cuba. This mobilization was driven by Cuban civil society, activists, and doctors, who fought against bureaucratic barriers and succeeded in having Damir treated at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami.
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