"Desperation Mounts for Cuban Mother Living in Hospital with Son for Two Years"

A Cuban mother from Villa Clara has spent nearly two years confined to the José Luis Miranda Pediatric Hospital in Santa Clara, alongside her four-year-old son. Tragically, the boy, who once walked and talked, now suffers from irreversible brain damage following two cardiac arrests during what was supposed to be a routine operation.

Claudia Acosta Duanes has accused the hospital of medical negligence, a claim she has shared with our newsroom and on social media. She explains that her son, Milán, was admitted to the hospital on November 29, 2024, due to apnea episodes. He was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe laryngomalacia. On December 13, he entered surgery for a tracheostomy, appearing to be in good health.

"On December 13, he was taken into surgery connected to a CPAP with 98% oxygen saturation, talking, crying, and most importantly, with an ultrasound done 15 minutes prior confirming he was fit for surgery," Claudia recounted.

Unforeseen Tragedy in the Operating Room

The events in the operating room altered their lives forever. Milán endured a 40-minute cardiorespiratory arrest, followed by another lasting 27 minutes, resulting in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a severe brain injury due to prolonged oxygen deprivation.

Doctors attributed the incident to moving the child from one stretcher to another, but Claudia firmly disagrees: "How could my son enter in good condition, and they tell me that moving him from one stretcher to another caused respiratory arrest? It's a lie."

"After my son entered that operating room, they ruined his life," she declared.

A Mother's Fight for a Suitable Home

Since then, Milán has been bedridden in the hospital, dependent on a tracheostomy, gastrostomy tube, special cannulas, anti-decubitus creams, diapers, and constant electricity. Claudia has remained by his side every single day, with no involvement from the child's father.

To bring Milán home, Claudia needed continuous electricity and air conditioning. Thanks to social media, she received donations, including a generator. However, after the state evaluated her home in Sitiecito, they deemed it unsuitable for her son and allocated funds to purchase a new house.

The allocated amount, however, is insufficient. "The government approved funds for a house purchase, yet it's not enough to buy a home that's at least decent for my child," Claudia protested.

Moreover, the identified property is in Sitiecito, 48 kilometers from the Provincial Hospital—a distance Claudia considers perilous given Milán's condition, which could deteriorate quickly without immediate medical attention.

Struggles and Survival

Claudia expressed her frustration, "For these innocent children, there's no home, no diapers, no food, nothing; yet, others have everything." She continued, "My soul can't take it anymore. I just want to be home with my son, as they robbed me of the joy of having a normal child."

While awaiting a resolution for over a month, Claudia and her son survive on the hospital's provisions: pea soup and squash for her, and plantain, taro puree, and minced meat for Milán. Claudia supplements her son's diet independently. "My son is healthy now because I don't feed him the hospital food; otherwise, he'd be malnourished," she stated.

This case is not isolated at the same hospital. In August 2025, a ten-year-old child had spent his entire life in the José Luis Miranda Hospital due to a degenerative neuromuscular disease, without state assistance for home transfer. In June, another mother reported her baby had been living in the hospital since birth due to alleged negligence during delivery, resulting in cerebral palsy and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

In April 2025, the Cuban government passed Decree 121, recognizing the care of children with severe and irreversible disabilities as a paid service. However, its practical implementation faces bureaucratic hurdles and resource shortages.