The mother of Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer García, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), received immediate medical attention in the United States after a bathroom fall resulted in a fractured ankle and an episode of arterial imbalance.
The incident took place on Friday, as recounted by Ferrer and his brother, Luis Enrique. They praised the quick and effective response of the U.S. emergency services, contrasting it with the Cuban regime's propaganda regarding the American healthcare system.
"My mother just had an accident in the bathroom. She fell, injuring her leg, experiencing vomiting, and her blood pressure is unstable. My sister-in-law and brother called 911, and an ambulance was sent right away," José Daniel Ferrer explained in a video shared on Facebook.
"My mother, brother, and sister-in-law are poor; they are not wealthy. According to the tyranny's propaganda, in the U.S., the poor receive inadequate medical care and suffer greatly. FALSE!" added the activist, who was exiled from Cuba last month after spending over four years in prison.
His brother, Luis Enrique, described that three emergency vehicles arrived shortly after the call, and medical personnel swiftly transported the elderly woman to the hospital.
"Then the communists with their lies and propaganda talk nonsense about how in the USA the poor die without assistance and that they are a medical powerhouse. A beggar powerhouse is what they are," he wrote on Facebook.
Later, it was confirmed by the doctors that she had suffered a fractured ankle and would be transferred to another facility with better orthopedic resources.
The case sparked hundreds of supportive messages on social media.
"Here, no one goes without medical care. May your mother get well," commented a Florida resident.
Another Cuban remarked, "She must be as strong as her children and is now where she will be well cared for, where there are resources. May she recover as soon as possible to enjoy this freedom."
The story of Ferrer's mother starkly contrasts with the reality of the Cuban healthcare system, which is experiencing one of its worst crises in decades.
On the Island, hospitals lack medications, basic supplies, and sufficient staff, forcing patients to bring everything from syringes to bed sheets.
Nevertheless, the regime continues to portray the Cuban healthcare model as "exemplary," while spreading a distorted narrative about U.S. medical care, claiming the poor are abandoned in hospitals if they cannot pay.
The swift medical response received by the dissident's mother disproves that narrative. In mere minutes, an ambulance equipped with medical personnel and the necessary resources was available to assist a low-income woman.
In contrast, in Cuba, citizens often wait hours, even days, for an ambulance or a simple consultation in a system overwhelmed by resource shortages and poor government management.
José Daniel Ferrer, one of the most recognized opponents on the Island, was imprisoned during the Black Spring of 2003 for his peaceful activism.
After more than two decades of persecution, detentions, and torture, he was exiled to the U.S. in October, accompanied by his family.
Today, from exile, he continues to denounce the regime's abuses and the reality faced by the Cuban people, marked by poverty, deteriorating public services, and political repression.
His mother's accident, addressed with promptness and dignity in a country where the regime's propaganda claimed such care would be impossible, stands as new evidence of how much the Cuban government has lied for decades about the world beyond its borders.
Understanding Healthcare Discrepancies Between Cuba and the U.S.
How did the U.S. emergency services respond to José Daniel Ferrer's mother's accident?
The U.S. emergency services responded promptly by dispatching an ambulance immediately after receiving the 911 call, providing swift and efficient medical care.
What does the incident say about the Cuban healthcare system?
The incident highlights the stark contrast between the U.S. and Cuban healthcare systems, revealing the inadequacies and propaganda of the Cuban system, often characterized by a lack of resources and poor management.
Why is José Daniel Ferrer's case significant?
José Daniel Ferrer's case is significant because it exposes the falsehoods propagated by the Cuban regime about foreign healthcare systems, particularly the U.S., while showcasing the failures of their own healthcare model.