Cuban Boy on the Mend After Life-Saving Surgery Aided by International Support

Leandro Gamboa Pelegrín, an 11-year-old from Ciego de Ávila, is making remarkable strides in his recovery after enduring an electrical shock of over 30,000 volts in December 2023. He successfully underwent four reconstructive surgeries in a single day at Camagüey, with no signs of fever or infection.

Leandro and his mother have found shelter in the home of a generous Camagüey supporter, who offered them accommodation for as long as they need. Meanwhile, the child’s daily medical supplies and nutrition are being funded through donations organized from Mexico by activist Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez and doctor Reynaldo Verona Bonce.

The surgical procedures, executed on a Tuesday by a diverse team from Eduardo Agramonte Piña Pediatric Hospital and Manuel Ascunce Domenech Clinical-Surgical Teaching Hospital, involved two operations on both sides of the neck and two to release contracted tissue in the groin, resulting in approximately 90 stitches in total.

Community Support and International Aid

"Four surgeries in one day without complications is an outstanding achievement," Rodríguez Sánchez shared during a live Facebook broadcast.

Since the accident—when the kite he was flying made contact with a high-voltage line, causing burns to 60% of his body—Leandro has been battling painful scars that restricted movement in his neck and groin.

Despite nearly three years of effort, his mother was unable to secure further operations through the Cuban healthcare system.

The Role of Social Media and Donations

It was the wave of solidarity on social media that ultimately made the surgery possible: Rodríguez Sánchez managed to send nearly $800 worth of ointments, bandages, antibiotics, neck braces, and specialized materials from Mexico, all funded by supporters. An anonymous former neighbor of Leandro's, now residing in the United States, also contributed by paying for a private air-conditioned vehicle for travel between Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey.

"I was fortunate to be the catalyst, the connector, you could say, the coordinator," acknowledged Rodríguez Sánchez, who also provided cell phones for Leandro and his mother to use during the recovery period.

Controversy and Criticism

Despite these collaborative efforts, the official state media and the Provincial Government of Camagüey framed the surgery as solely a triumph of the state health system, omitting mention of Rodríguez Sánchez, Verona Bonce, or any of the donors, sparking outrage on social media.

A relative of Orlando Gazmuri, one of the surgeons involved, bluntly stated: "Always playing politics, and my uncle, who was one of the surgeons, isn't mentioned at all in their reports."

This scenario underscores the severe crisis within Cuba's healthcare system: by July 2026, over 100,000 patients were on surgical waiting lists, including more than 10,000 children, and as of April that year, 461 out of 651 essential medicines were out of stock in state pharmacies.

Upon their return to Ciego de Ávila, Leandro and his mother will also receive a donation of one million Cuban pesos, painstakingly collected by donors from across the country. "The true heroes here are Leandro and his mom—two incredible warriors with remarkable humility. Without unity and determination, nothing is possible," Verona Bonce concluded.