A Cuban Doctor in Exile Mourns His Father's Passing from Afar

Dr. Lázaro Elieser Leyva García, an Internal Medicine specialist trained in Spain, recently faced one of the most dreaded fears of Cuban expatriates: receiving the heart-wrenching news of a loved one's passing while being too far away to say a final goodbye.

In a heartfelt message, Leyva shared his personal grief following his father's death in Cuba. He acknowledged a sentiment familiar to those living abroad: "We all know that day will eventually come."

"My father has passed away in Cuba. He was ill, and we were aware of his condition, yet the news hits hard. You can never truly prepare to hear that he's gone, even if you saw it coming," he expressed.

The pain of separation is palpable in his words: "It's heavy not to have been there in recent times, not to have been able to offer more support, or to say goodbye in person. There's a lingering bitterness for the time lost," he confessed.

Reflecting on the challenges of aging and illness in Cuba, Dr. Leyva touched on a significant concern for the diaspora: "I think a lot about what he endured over the years, how difficult it is to age and fall ill in Cuba's current reality," he noted, though he found solace in knowing that his father "now rests" and is free from the daily struggles and exhaustion.

"Losing a father is painful. It hurts even when you know he was unwell. The distance hurts, as does what was left undone," he wrote.

Yet, he emphasized the lasting impact of his father's life: "The way he faced life, his work ethic, and resilience. That's what I hold onto. That's what guides me."

His message concluded with a tender farewell: "I send you a hug, old man, one that doesn't let go, even from afar. I wish you could hear me say one more time that I love you."

His testimony resonates with many Cubans in exile, who endure the sorrow of losing a loved one from a distance, compounded by the inability to be present in their final moments or to bid farewell in person.