Lester Domínguez Ortiz marks his birthday this Wednesday in Holguín without a scheduled date for a critical surgery, despite over a year passing since doctors declared him ready for the procedure.
The young man was left paralyzed after suffering a brutal machete attack to the neck in March 2023 in San Germán, Holguín, when he was just 16. In a video shared by content creator Noly Blak, Lester explained his dire situation: “I need surgery because my spinal cord is compressed, and my cervical vertebra is inverted, which is gradually causing more compression and killing me.”
Lester has already secured the surgical materials necessary for the operation, yet the health system hasn’t reached out in over a year. “I’ve been waiting for a year. I even got the tests done, but they said they would call me. No one has,” he stated. “All that remains is for them to schedule the surgery and notify me.”
The compression is advancing, now preventing him from opening his hands and making it difficult to operate his already broken wheelchair. "The compression is progressing, and I'm losing mobility in my hands. I can't maneuver this chair anymore," he noted.
Lester is staying with an aunt in Holguín because his hometown, San Germán, suffers from frequent power outages.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
The life-altering assault occurred while Lester was walking home, phone in hand: “I was attacked from behind, didn’t even realize. They caught me at a corner on my way home. All I felt was the blow.”
The assailant, Adrián Grass Bermúdez, was identified after the stolen phone—a low-cost Huawei—was found buried in his yard.
The prosecution has requested 20 years imprisonment for Grass Bermúdez, with an additional four years for other phone thefts, and the trial is set for a verdict in May 2024. Another suspect committed suicide before the trial.
Systemic Failures in Healthcare
The surgery has faced numerous delays. By August 2025, doctors affirmed Lester was ready, but the family was still searching for a crucial orthopedic Minerva brace in October. Hurricane Melissa in November further complicated matters, damaging 461 health facilities in eastern Cuba, including Holguín.
This issue is part of a broader collapse: by 2026, Cuba’s healthcare system has a surgery waiting list of up to 96,000 people, including 11,000 children, with procedures limited to emergencies due to resource shortages and power issues.
Lester’s father, Dennis Domínguez, publicly criticized the government’s negligence, sarcastically commenting, “A medical powerhouse, yet my son’s life is endangered by an unoperated inverted vertebra.”
He also pointed out that his son has received no state aid for over a year: “They claim to support vulnerable and needy individuals, but it’s all lies.”
Hope Amidst Uncertainty
As a birthday gift, Lester Fleites, a U.S. resident, announced the donation of an electric wheelchair to Lester, whose current chair is beyond his ability to control.
Still, the looming surgery remains the primary threat to his recovery, as the untreated vertebra could lead to arthritis and hinder any rehabilitation progress.
“The boy is alive by a miracle,” summarized Dennis Domínguez, urging those willing to assist to contact Lester directly at 54-19-99-63.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lester Domínguez's Situation
Why hasn't Lester Domínguez been able to undergo surgery yet?
Despite having the necessary surgical materials, he has not been contacted by the healthcare system for over a year to schedule the procedure.
What are the consequences of the delayed surgery for Lester?
The delay is causing progressive spinal cord compression, which is worsening his condition, limiting his hand mobility, and could lead to arthritis, hindering rehabilitation.
How has the healthcare system's failure impacted other patients in Cuba?
Cuba's healthcare system is overwhelmed, with a waiting list of roughly 96,000 for surgeries, including 11,000 children, with services limited to emergencies due to resource and power shortages.