A Cuban father has shared two profoundly emotional messages dedicated to his six-year-old daughter Milena, who suffers from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe neurological disorder that causes frequent epileptic seizures and significantly limits her mobility and independence.
Baysel Acosta Moreno, through a heartfelt post on Facebook, expressed the harsh realities and deep love involved in raising a sick child amidst widespread shortages.
"For many, life is a joy when you wake up and have everything you need. For others, it's a constant battle to survive another 24 hours. For those of us with sick loved ones, it's a relentless challenge in a world lacking everything. Where difficulties escalate as needs grow," he wrote.
In another poignant post, he described the heartache of having a child who spends all her time in bed or relies on hands as crutches.
"No heart can withstand seeing you there, motionless, like an object," he noted.
Baysel expressed the pain of dreaming about seeing his daughter running and playing like any other child: "So many thoughts, so many dreams of seeing you one day being yourself, with your feet, with your hands, of watching you run, scream, and be mischievous."
Nevertheless, he vowed that giving up is not an option: "The word surrender is meaningless."
Amidst the daily struggles, the father emphasized the strength that love brings: "With you, I learned to cry out of sadness when you get sick, but also to cry tears of joy when you win a battle."
He concluded with a powerful statement that has touched thousands: "If you see me cry, it doesn't matter, every tear carries all the love in the world and all the strength to be there with you until the end of the world."
Milena Acosta is one of three girls benefiting from a GoFundMe campaign initiated by Cuban journalist Mónica Baró Sánchez, aiming to urgently purchase electric generators.
The children depend on medical equipment powered by electricity, and due to frequent power outages in Cuba, they must remain in a hospital, as they wouldn't survive at home without power.
So far, the fundraising for Milena and the other two girls has reached $1,853 out of a $12,500 goal, a figure still insufficient to cover the purchase and installation of the generators that would allow the girls to be at home.
Baró clarified that these generators aren't ordinary machines but are designed to ensure the continuous operation of respirators, neurological devices, and assisted feeding systems.
"A generator doesn't cure a disease, but it allows for breathing, eating, sleeping, and living at home," she emphasized.
Besides Milena, the campaign includes Valentina Ramos, a baby who has never lived outside a hospital, and Yeilín, a child with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy who relies on a mechanical ventilator 24/7.
The situation of these families reveals a disturbing reality: the Cuban state has failed to provide even the most basic needs to the most vulnerable.
There's no electrical support, insufficient supplies, and a lack of institutional responses. The survival of these girls depends today on solidarity.
In a country where official propaganda boasts of "free healthcare," three severely ill children need international aid to live at home without the threat of a power outage.
As Baysel wrote: "I may not be the perfect man, but I am a true father...and I learn that from you."
The Struggles and Urgency for Support in Cuba
What is Lennox-Gastaut syndrome?
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe neurological disorder that causes frequent epileptic seizures, significantly limiting an individual's mobility and independence.
Why do these children in Cuba need generators?
The children rely on medical equipment powered by electricity, and due to frequent power outages in Cuba, they need continuous power to survive, which is why generators are essential.
How much has been raised for the generator campaign?
As of now, $1,853 has been raised out of the $12,500 goal needed to purchase and install the generators for the children.