Celebrating his ninth birthday this Wednesday, Jorgito (Jorge Esteban Reina Llerena) is now cancer-free in Italy. This milestone comes after Cuban doctors told his mother that a bone marrow transplant was the only solution, a procedure that Cuba's healthcare system was unable to perform due to its severe structural crisis, worsened by the pandemic.
Arlety Llerena, his mother, shared with CiberCuba the journey her son underwent. Jorgito arrived in Italy with a testicular tumor that tested positive for leukemia. However, the radiation therapy he received in Cuba contributed to his successful recovery.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
"The testicle was indeed positive for leukemia, but since his radiation treatment in Cuba was very targeted, the tumor was localized, and the margins came back negative," Arlety explained.
After the removal of the testicle, Italian doctors determined that the likelihood of recurrence was low. Despite this, Arlety acknowledged the lingering fear, as Jorgito had experienced two relapses during his illness.
The pivotal discovery was that his bone marrow was completely clear, making the previously considered inevitable transplant unnecessary. "His bone marrow was clean, you understand?" Arlety noted.
Criticism of Cuban Healthcare's Capabilities
Arlety openly questioned Cuba's diagnostic capabilities. "In Cuba, I don't know what was happening, they hadn't realized. They even said he needed a bone marrow transplant because some resources had come into the hospital. The plan was to proceed with the transplant, but thankfully, it was not needed."
She also clarified that the treatment he received in Cuba over the past two years was not curative. "It was more of a preventive treatment, meant to stop the disease from progressing. But it worked, it seems it worked."
A Journey of Challenges and Hope
The path to Italy was fraught with challenges. The family applied twice for a U.S. visa and was denied both times. Intervention by then-Senator Marco Rubio led to the prioritization of their application by USCIS in September 2024, yet the U.S. ultimately denied the humanitarian visa, claiming the child did not meet the criteria.
Boxer Yordenis Ugás was one of the vocal critics of the U.S. decision to deny the visa.
It was then that Arlety reached out to numerous foundations worldwide without success until she contacted a social media personality known as "Nelson el porfiado." "I wrote to this person, and thanks to him and everyone who follows him, today we have this miracle," Arlety expressed.
This connection, along with help from someone named Ángela and Italian doctors, facilitated the journey in about three months, with all medical expenses covered by an Italian foundation.
The Reality of a New Beginning
Arlety summarized the stark difference between what could have been and what is. "Fortunately, we are in this country (Italy), though unfortunately, we are not with our family."
The Cuban regime labeled the public dissemination of the case as "manipulation" while the family fought to save the child's life outside the island.
"With God's blessing, there was no need for a transplant, monoclonal therapy, or CAR-T therapy," concluded Arlety Llerena on her son's ninth birthday.
In her interview with CiberCuba, Arlety Llerena encouraged other mothers facing similar challenges not to give up and to seek medical alternatives outside Cuba. She also confirmed that all of her son's treatments have been provided free of charge.
FAQs about Jorgito's Journey and Medical Challenges
Why was a bone marrow transplant not necessary for Jorgito?
Italian doctors found that Jorgito's bone marrow was completely clean, eliminating the need for the transplant that was considered inevitable in Cuba.
What challenges did Jorgito's family face in seeking treatment abroad?
The family faced visa denials from the United States and had to reach out to multiple foundations before securing help from Italian contacts and a foundation that covered all medical expenses.