Maura Vázquez, a retired nurse with 43 years of service, embarked on a long journey from Havana to Sancti Spíritus this week, driven by hope and a sign in hand: she is determined to locate her daughter, Doraiky Águila Vázquez, who vanished 19 months ago without any explanation from the Cuban authorities.
This arduous trip was inspired by information circulating on social media suggesting Doraiky might be in the Cabaiguán area, located in the province of Sancti Spíritus. Upon arrival, Maura sought out Yureibys Torresilla, a community activist widely respected and known as "El Héroe," who spearheads the charity initiative "Hermanos de la Calle."
Torresilla shared a heartfelt video on Facebook, announcing Maura's arrival and urging the community to join the search effort.
"What wouldn't a mother do for her child? Especially for a missing daughter. It's been 19 months since Doraiky disappeared," expressed Torresilla, visibly moved, as Maura stood beside him.
In another post, the activist wrote: "My God, look who came looking for me, Doraiky's mother, desperate yet hopeful that her daughter will be found. This is immense... I'm both emotional and saddened."
A photo from the meeting depicts Maura in front of the José Martí Pérez Provincial Pediatric Teaching Hospital, holding a motorcycle helmet and a flyer with her daughter's image. The flyer lists several phone numbers and a plea: "If you see her, please hold onto her and call the following numbers. She is not aggressive."
The Desperate Search for Doraiky
Zuyen Toledo, a resident of Sancti Spíritus, went to meet Maura and urged the local community to take action: "Maura has traveled all the way from Havana to our province, burdened with anguish yet clinging to the hope of finding her daughter. Imagine the pain of a mother who hasn't known her child's whereabouts for so long! Today, this mother needs us. We cannot turn a blind eye."
"According to shared information, her daughter was spotted in this area. We must not let this search go unnoticed," she emphasized.
Doraiky, living in the Lawton neighborhood in the Diez de Octubre municipality, disappeared on the night of March 15, 2025, during a widespread blackout in Havana. At that time, she was 48 years old. Her last sighting was on the Calzada de 10 de Octubre, wearing a long yellow dress with red or pink flowers and black sandals with a red stripe. She suffers from episodes of transient memory loss, making her particularly susceptible to confusion.
Since then, Maura has been relentless. She traverses various Cuban municipalities daily, distributing posters and flyers without any documented official support.
In November, she made a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of San Lázaro in El Rincón, clutching a photo of her daughter. In April 2026, she debunked a rumor placing Doraiky in El Vedado by visiting the location and confirming her daughter "has not been found."
The family has filed a police report, registered as number 19434, and is offering a reward of 350,000 Cuban pesos for credible information on Doraiky's whereabouts. She left behind two children, aged 14 and 15, when she disappeared.
Cuba lacks effective official mechanisms for searching for missing persons, leaving families almost entirely reliant on citizen solidarity and social media to seek help.
FAQs about Doraiky's Disappearance
What motivated Maura Vázquez to travel to Sancti Spíritus?
Maura was motivated by social media information suggesting her daughter Doraiky might be in the Cabaiguán area of Sancti Spíritus.
Who is Yureibys Torresilla?
Yureibys Torresilla is a community activist known as "El Héroe," who leads the charity project "Hermanos de la Calle" and is a respected figure in the area.
What are the challenges faced by families searching for missing persons in Cuba?
In Cuba, families struggle due to the absence of effective official mechanisms for finding missing persons, relying heavily on community support and social media.