Mother of Damir Ortiz Challenges Official Health Report: "My Son Lacked Even Thermometers"

Eliannis Ramírez, the mother of Damir Ortiz, whose health situation has stirred significant concern within the Cuban community, once again accused state health authorities of colluding with the official media to downplay the medical shortages her son faced during his hospital stay in Havana. Recently, in a program aired by Cuban state television, the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) defended the care provided to young Damir Ortiz at the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, blaming the mother for interfering with her son's treatment.

Ramírez took to her Facebook account to criticize the official narrative and refute Dr. Araiz Consuegra's claim that Ortiz had access to all necessary medications. "I watch and rewatch it, and I just think (how I wish I could have been there to defend myself, for heaven's sake). What brazen and deceitful individuals!" Ramírez exclaimed in her brief post.

The mother contradicted Dr. Araís Consuegra's assertion that no medication was lacking for her son. "So many people had to bring me thermometers, vancomycin, tramadol, gauze, and even laxatives so Damir could relieve himself," she noted in her post.

Ramírez also accused Cuban health authorities of negligence and acting with impunity: "#Minsap, you know I'm right, you're paid assassins, you'll pay. Cuba and the world already know, never forget what you did to my son Damir," she declared.

During the television appearance, Cuban officials and doctors claimed that all medical decisions regarding the child—who was moved to a Miami hospital in extremely critical condition after a fervent social media campaign—"were made by consensus" and that the "priority was always the child's welfare." The MINSAP insisted that the decision not to perform a biopsy was made by the family, not the medical staff.

A hospital spokesperson emphasized that "it's not a miracle that the child is currently better; it's the expected outcome of correctly applying specific oncological treatment and having adequate supportive care in Cuba." They also addressed criticisms about the lack of treatment, stating it was a complex situation where "opportunities were missed" due to the mother's refusal to permit certain procedures.

Activist Diasniurka Salcedo, who assisted in the child's transfer out of Cuba, mentioned that the boy had been ill for years and that his condition worsened due to a lack of timely care. She noted that the MINSAP did not release the necessary letters or documents for the U.S. Embassy in Havana to grant the family a humanitarian visa until the boy's health had reached a critical state.

The Damir Ortiz case has sparked outrage on social media, with users questioning the official narrative and denouncing Cuba’s healthcare crisis. The situation in Cuban hospitals has been a frequent target of criticism in recent years, with patients and their families reporting shortages of medications, specialized staff, and adequate care conditions.

In light of the controversy, Eliannis Ramírez will hold a press conference at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora in Miami, where she will present evidence to refute the Cuban doctors' statements on state television. The event is scheduled for Monday, March 31, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at the museum's premises, located at 1200 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33145.