Cuban family finds hope in cancer treatment for little girl in Miami

MIAMI – It’s solely been per week, however a family of 4 from Cuba finds hope in a brand new house and treatment plan for their little girl with cancer.  

At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Southwest Miami-Dade, six-year-old Vanessa Alfonso Lupianez will obtain life-saving treatment.

A brighter outlook the family believes in, due to Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar.

“Thankful to the Congresswoman because all four of us can be together and go through this process,” stated Jennifer Lupianez, Vanessa’s mother.

For the primary time on Monday afternoon, Congresswoman Salazar and this family of 4 from Cuba meet.

Vanessa, at first shy, warms up and begins to play together with her new toys alongside her older brother.  It was a joyful second after many months of hardship.  

“These are the moments that make all the difference,” stated Salazar

Vanessa’s grandfather, who lives in Cutler Bay, reached out to Salazar late final 12 months, asking for assist.  His granddaughter had cancer in her kidney and would not survive medical treatment in Cuba.

“I thought I would lose my daughter,” stated the mother.  

Salazar stepped in.  Vanessa’s family wanted Humanitarian Parole.  The case was practically denied by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

“It changes your life,” emphasised Salazar.  “This child could be my daughter.”

Back in Cuba final September, Vanessa’s outlook appeared bleak.

Doctors found she had cancer.  Once they did, the hospital admitted her rapidly.  They eliminated her kidney.  What made it all of the tougher, she was not allowed to see her dad or brother for three months.

“My son got very depressed,” stated Yansey Alfonso, Vanessa’s dad.  “Me too.  Imagine in the street trying to find food, trying to find nourishment.  It was very hard those three months,” stated her dad.  

The family tells us that docs in Cuba lacked the medicines to deal with Vanessa.  They additionally refused to share what drugs they gave the girl.  Vanessa was in ache.

Once this news reached Salazar’s desk, she acted to get them visas.  

“She’s going to die if she doesn’t come,” harassed Salazar.  “We have the medicine to save her.  And to change the lives of this family.”

Eight months after the cancer prognosis, all the family now resides in South Florida, arriving final week.

They hug and rejoice now, dwelling at grandads.  In time, they hope to do all of the issues Vanessa likes to do, cancer-free.

“She spends all her time dancing, singing,” stated the mother.  “That’s what she loves to do.”  

Salazar stated it was really a miracle, thanking the state division for working collectively to make this attainable.

Vanessa had preliminary checkups final week and expects to start a brand new treatment path quickly.