The family of Vanessa Verdecia Labrada, a three-year-old girl from Holguín, is urgently seeking financial assistance via social media to fund a critical bone marrow transplant in Italy. This procedure is the only available option to save her life.
On Facebook, Vanessa's father revealed that nearly nine months ago, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia M5, a particularly aggressive form of leukemia. Initially treated at Holguín's Pediatric Hospital, the family believed she was in remission. However, Vanessa was recently re-admitted due to low health parameters.
"Doctors immediately performed a bone marrow test, and the disease has returned," wrote Adam Verdecia, adding, "This type of leukemia can only be treated with a bone marrow transplant."
After reaching out to a hospital in Italy that agreed to treat Vanessa, the family faces a daunting financial challenge, as the procedure costs thousands of euros—an unmanageable sum for a Cuban family.
"I've never asked for financial help before, but it's a matter of life and death now," Vanessa's father stated, providing his phone number - 63163447 - for direct donations.
This isn't the first public plea for Vanessa. Back in October 2025, when she was just two, activist Yan Cuba Nayara, founder of the humanitarian project "Luz del Corazón," and citizen Ernesto Almaguer Díaz rallied the community on Facebook to secure urgent platelet donations—two per day—while Vanessa was hospitalized at the same pediatric hospital in Holguín.
Yan Cuba Nayara is once again calling for support: "Please, anyone who has donated to the Luz del Corazón project, reach out to Vanessa's parents. We've helped this princess before, but now she truly needs all the support she can get."
Healthcare Limitations in Cuba
Vanessa's case starkly highlights the shortcomings of the Cuban healthcare system. Cuba does not perform pediatric bone marrow transplants and is not part of any international donor registry, forcing families to seek prohibitively expensive treatments abroad, with costs ranging from 65,000 to 160,000 euros.
This dire situation unfolds amid a documented healthcare collapse: In July 2025, the Ministry of Public Health admitted that only 30% of essential medications are available, and infant mortality has surged to 8.2 deaths per thousand live births, a dramatic increase from 3.9 in 2018—a rise of nearly 110% in seven years.
The William Soler Pediatric Hospital in Havana was reported as completely overwhelmed in October 2025, suffering from overcrowded emergency rooms, staff shortages, and a lack of supplies—a reality mirrored across pediatric centers nationwide.
Vanessa's plight is not unique. Since 2022, numerous Cuban families have resorted to humanitarian visas or international fundraising campaigns to secure bone marrow transplants that the Cuban state cannot provide, with many visa applications being denied.
FAQs on Bone Marrow Transplants and Healthcare in Cuba
Why does Vanessa need a bone marrow transplant?
Vanessa has a severe form of leukemia that can only be treated with a bone marrow transplant, which is not available in Cuba.
What challenges do Cuban families face in securing medical treatment abroad?
Cuban families often encounter financial barriers and visa denials while seeking medical treatments abroad, as the necessary procedures are costly and not supported by the Cuban healthcare system.