A Cuban mother captured the exhaustion felt by countless families on the island in a single, poignant image: sitting in a rocking chair, fanning her five-year-old daughter asleep on her lap amidst the stifling heat of a day without electricity.
Elizeida Rueda, originally from Guantánamo and now living in Havana, shared the photograph on her Facebook profile alongside a deeply moving caption.
"How do I explain to a five-year-old that 'there is nothing' is all we have left?" Rueda began her post with this question.
The image of this mother cradling her child, who barely fits on her lap, while attempting to provide some comfort with a fan is incredibly touching.
"This photo sums up my nights. She, with her innocence, asks me why there is no power, why I can't turn on the fan so she can sleep without sweating, why she can't watch her cartoons to distract herself," she recounted.
Rueda, who according to her profile is a medical graduate now working as a manicurist in Havana, expressed the helplessness of not having answers for her daughter: "And there I am, holding her, fanning her to ease the heat, my heart breaking."
Her post concluded with a phrase that resonates with many Cuban parents: "No child should know what stifling heat and darkness are like as a normal thing. I have no answers for her, only hugs and the greatest helplessness in the world. This is not a life for them."
In the comments, she added another equally heartbreaking reflection: "No mother should spend the night fanning her child amidst sweat and tears, making up lies to justify the darkness. Our children's childhood cannot be regained."
"Our children's childhood cannot be regained," Rueda reiterated in her comments—a phrase that, for many Cuban families, no longer sounds like a metaphor but a diagnosis.
Electricity Crisis Worsens in Cuba
The testimony comes amid one of the worst moments of Cuba's electricity crisis. So far in July 2026, the National Electric System has completely collapsed at least three times: on July 6, 10, and 14.
Rueda's pain is not an isolated incident.
Other Cuban mothers have documented similar situations on social media in recent months: a mother who fanned her four-year-old daughter for over 30 hours during a blackout, another whose one-year-old baby slept on a cot in the yard after hours without electricity, and yet another whose one-year-old son couldn't stay inside the house due to the unbearable heat.
Understanding Cuba's Electricity Crisis
What is causing the electricity crisis in Cuba?
Cuba's electricity crisis is largely due to an outdated power grid, lack of maintenance, and insufficient fuel supplies, which have led to frequent blackouts and unreliable electricity service.
How are Cuban families coping with the power outages?
Cuban families are coping by using fans, moving to cooler areas like patios, and improvising ways to keep cool during power outages. Many share their experiences and seek support through social media.