Support for Machete Attack Victim
Tax deductible
The Center for a Free Cuba is a non-partisan human rights organization dedicated to the promotion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Cuba. The Center’s president is a retired career foreign service officer, Ambassador James C. Cason, former Chief of the American Mission in Havana. The Center’s Board of Directors and Research Council bring together several former American ambassadors, professors, business and community leaders.
The Center is raising money for Sirley Avila Leon , a Cuban dissident who was the victim of a politically motivated machete attack on May 24, 2015 in Limones, Majibacoa in Eastern Cuba. Sirley had been elected three times for the local municipal Popular Assembly and when she opposed the closing of an elementary school in her neighborhood, the government began efforts to try to silence her and intimidate her. When those government efforts failed, a government activist attacked her, slashing her shoulder, collarbone, and knees and, as she raised her arm to shield her head from his blows, he sliced off her left wrist and hand. The assailant’s wife then threw the severed hand into the pigsty, contaminating it so it could not be reattached.
Unfortunately, over the next 10 months she did not receive needed medical care in Cuba and her condition became that of a complete invalid unable to bend her knees, or close her remaining right hand.
On March 8, 2016 the Miami Medical Team generously donated their medical services and have overseen her treatment, rehabilitation, and provided a prosthesis for her left hand.
The money will be used to: cover housing, food and incidentals while she continues to receive medical care including rehabilitation therapy; to obtain an electric wheelchair for Sirley to be able to move around independently; a sewing machine to gain her economic independence; some funds to repair the roof of her home in Cuba that is in great disrepair; to purchase medication she might need in the future; and provide humanitarian aid for her elderly mother suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
The Center is raising money for Sirley Avila Leon , a Cuban dissident who was the victim of a politically motivated machete attack on May 24, 2015 in Limones, Majibacoa in Eastern Cuba. Sirley had been elected three times for the local municipal Popular Assembly and when she opposed the closing of an elementary school in her neighborhood, the government began efforts to try to silence her and intimidate her. When those government efforts failed, a government activist attacked her, slashing her shoulder, collarbone, and knees and, as she raised her arm to shield her head from his blows, he sliced off her left wrist and hand. The assailant’s wife then threw the severed hand into the pigsty, contaminating it so it could not be reattached.
Unfortunately, over the next 10 months she did not receive needed medical care in Cuba and her condition became that of a complete invalid unable to bend her knees, or close her remaining right hand.
On March 8, 2016 the Miami Medical Team generously donated their medical services and have overseen her treatment, rehabilitation, and provided a prosthesis for her left hand.
The money will be used to: cover housing, food and incidentals while she continues to receive medical care including rehabilitation therapy; to obtain an electric wheelchair for Sirley to be able to move around independently; a sewing machine to gain her economic independence; some funds to repair the roof of her home in Cuba that is in great disrepair; to purchase medication she might need in the future; and provide humanitarian aid for her elderly mother suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Organizer
Frank Calzon
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
Center for A Free Cuba
Beneficiary