Vanessa de la Caridad Verdecía Labrada, a three-year-old girl from Holguín, tragically passed away on Wednesday without receiving the critical bone marrow transplant she needed to combat high-risk leukemia.
The heartbreaking news was shared on Facebook by Verónica Dantés De Cuba and Orleydis Rodríguez, who had been actively involved in the fundraising efforts for the young child.
"Holguín is mourning... I saw this case on social media and witnessed countless people stepping up to help her, which brought me joy... but it hit me deeply when I learned that Vanessa is no longer with us," they expressed.
Vanessa had been diagnosed with high-risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia type M4/M5, a condition her father, Adam Verdecia, described bluntly: "The only treatment option is a bone marrow transplant."
Medical reports from the Holguín University Pediatric Hospital confirmed that Vanessa faced a severe relapse. The reports highlighted "over 60% infiltration of myeloid blasts in the bone marrow, severe anemia, critically low platelets, recurrent infections, and a very delicate prognosis."
An Italian hospital had agreed to perform the transplant, a procedure not available for pediatric patients in Cuba, as the country is not listed in any international donor registries.
The treatment abroad was estimated to cost between 65,000 and 160,000 euros, an amount far beyond the family's financial reach.
Another option was to take her to Miami, where a hospital was ready to receive her. "Vanessa's condition was extremely fragile. She couldn't travel on a regular flight; the family had plans to transport her via air ambulance directly to Miami," explained those following her case.
"In Cuba, there are virtually no remaining medical options to save her," noted the posts, summarizing the dire situation faced by numerous Cuban families with children suffering from cancer, who cannot access treatments that the island's healthcare system fails to provide.
Other voices on social media joined in the grief. "May God hold you in His arms, princess," wrote activist Yan Cuba Nayara, who leads the humanitarian project "Light of the Heart."
"Rest in peace, Vanessa," posted activist Noly Blak, known for organizing collections and aid campaigns for those in extreme poverty or with health issues in Holguín.
This case starkly highlights the inadequacies of the Cuban healthcare system.
Cuba does not perform pediatric bone marrow transplants and is not listed in any international donor registries, forcing families to seek treatment abroad at costs ranging from 65,000 to 160,000 euros.
The healthcare collapse is well-documented: the Ministry of Public Health acknowledged in July 2025 that only 30% of essential medications are available, and infant mortality has surged to 8.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 3.9 in 2018, marking a nearly 110% increase in seven years.
Vanessa's story is far from unique. Since 2022, many Cuban families have had to turn to humanitarian visas or international fundraising campaigns to access transplants or other treatments that the Cuban state cannot provide.
Understanding the Healthcare Crisis in Cuba
Why couldn't Vanessa receive the bone marrow transplant in Cuba?
Cuba does not perform pediatric bone marrow transplants and is not part of any international donor registry, making it impossible to conduct such a procedure on the island.
What options were available for Vanessa's treatment?
Vanessa had the possibility of receiving treatment in Italy or Miami. However, both options required significant financial resources that the family did not have, and her condition made travel challenging.
How does Vanessa's case reflect the broader healthcare situation in Cuba?
Vanessa's case underscores the limitations of the Cuban healthcare system, which struggles to provide essential treatments and medications, leaving many families with no choice but to seek help abroad at prohibitive costs.