Urgent Appeal for Cuban Girl and Grandmother in the U.S.: A Heartbreaking Tale

In a heartfelt plea, the Cuban community is rallying to support Gillian Rodríguez, a 12-year-old girl, and her grandmother Georgina Sao. The pair arrived in the United States in November 2023, leaving behind a painful chapter in Cuba. They face immense challenges as they settle in Palm Beach, Florida, following the tragic death of Yenisley Perdomo, Georgina's daughter and Gillian's mother, who was a passionate animal rights advocate on the island.

Yenisley, affectionately known as "Yeni," passed away in 2023 just days after securing a humanitarian visa for treatment in the U.S. Unfortunately, the assistance arrived too late to save her. Her death thrust Georgina into the role of sole caretaker for her granddaughter in a foreign land, without the support or resources they desperately need.

An Uphill Battle in a New Country

Despite overcoming numerous legal and emotional hurdles to leave Cuba, Georgina, who had been residing in the U.S. for years, now finds herself grappling with a dire situation akin to what they escaped. As reported by BAC-Habana, an animal rescue organization, the duo is staying in a borrowed room, with minimal belongings and no stable income. Access to necessary healthcare remains out of reach, compounding their emotional distress.

Young Gillian is struggling with severe depression, having been admitted twice to child mental health units. She harbors suicidal thoughts, engages in self-harm, and appears disengaged from life. Her haunting refrain, "Mom isn't here anymore," captures her deep sense of loss. She struggles with basic tasks like eating, sleeping, and focusing at school.

The Call for Compassionate Support

Georgina, at 55, is overwhelmed. Her bank card is nearly depleted, barely covering essentials, let alone therapy, school snacks, or transportation. The lack of resources extends to basic needs such as clothing and a bed for Gillian. BAC-Habana, which once served as a beacon of hope for Yeni, has issued an urgent call for solidarity, seeking help for the struggling duo.

They urge the community to contribute not just financially, but also through donations of food, clothing, school supplies, medications, and crucially, medical and psychological care. The message is clear: honoring Yeni's legacy of compassion means supporting those she left behind.

"Can you help them? – Contribute via Zelle or PayPal. – Donate clothing, food, medications, school supplies. – Share this message. Reach out to those who can donate. – If you're a psychologist, doctor, or social worker, offer your assistance. – If none of these are possible, simply write to her. Let her know she's not alone. WhatsApp Georgina Sao: +15614535429. She has Zelle active. Every dollar, every jar of food, every empty backpack filled, could change the course of this story," the post emphasizes.

"Do it for Gillian. Do it for Georgina. Do it for Yeni," the organization's message concludes, invoking the same spirit of solidarity that Yeni inspired throughout her life.

A Tragic Loss and a Mother's Fight

On October 25, 2023, Yenisley Perdomo, aged 37, succumbed to breast cancer with metastasis to her bones and liver, mere days after receiving a humanitarian visa to seek treatment abroad. In Cuba, she had been denied adequate medical care. Yeni was on the brink of leaving for treatment when the disease claimed her life, leaving her daughter orphaned and her mother heartbroken.

Georgina had long been fighting for a humanitarian visa for Yeni, even reaching out to Cuban-American congress members María Elvira Salazar and Marco Rubio for help. "In her last admission, they almost killed her; her health deteriorates every day," she had stressed.

Having consistently denounced the poor healthcare services, lack of supplies in hospitals, and general precariousness of Cuba's medical system, Georgina was determined to bring Gillian to the U.S. After her daughter's death, she staged a sit-in at Havana's airport, refusing to leave until the Cuban government allowed her to take her granddaughter out of the country.

Their departure was initially blocked, as authorities claimed Georgina lacked legal custody of Gillian, despite the child's father's notarized consent due to his incarceration. "It's heartbreaking what we're going through. My girl is very nervous from all she's suffered, and these people won't let us leave. I'm camped at the airport, with nowhere else to go," Georgina lamented tearfully.

Ultimately, the next day, they managed to depart. "Gina Sao and her granddaughter are finally boarding the plane after an airline change. I'm relieved everything worked out," shared a Facebook post by Armando Caos.