"Leaving Cuba to Protect My Children": Cuban Doctor Shares Her Journey of Twice Emigrating to Live Without Fear and Achieve Her Dream

A 36-year-old Cuban doctor named Yadira recently shared her compelling migration story on TikTok, driven by economic necessity, the aspiration for a better future for her children, and a determination to break away from a system that she claims keeps doctors at the bottom of the social hierarchy in Cuba. "I preferred to start from scratch and face an uncertain future rather than remain in Cuba, where certain death by anguish, powerlessness, hunger, and need awaited us," she stated.

Yadira's journey began with a medical mission abroad alongside her husband. After fulfilling their contract, they returned to Cuba, purchased a home, and welcomed their second child. However, it took two years of persistent requests for permission to leave the country again, as their applications were routinely denied by the authorities.

Once they received the long-awaited approval, they relocated to Africa to work as independent doctors. For two years, they lived in a country that Yadira describes as unsuitable for raising children due to issues like disease, insecurity, and poor education.

With their savings, the family embarked on a new chapter in Spain. They arrived with the understanding that finding work in their field would be challenging and were prepared to take on any job, from washing dishes to caring for the elderly. "We keep moving forward; nothing compares to walking the streets without fear, shopping alone, providing education and healthcare for my children, or dressing however I want," Yadira emphasized, facing this phase of life with faith and optimism.