Periodico 26

It is not a common day. Balloons, chains, piñata and music adorn the atmosphere and reveal the difference of the day. From very early, laborious hands finalize the details for the celebration of a great collective birthday. The honorees wait, even without recognizing the real reason for so much hubbub.

Some patients listen to the melodies, others dance, and even those who remain silent express curiosity in their faces. In each of them lives a child who dreams in a world of fantasies, although many of them reach the third age. Suddenly the clowns burst with picturesque costumes and infect this singular audience with joy.

Everyone there integrates a beautiful family and embrace an innocence that makes them special. The patients receive their gifts and do not find any objection in sharing them with their friends. Those are pure feelings that are born of the soul, and do not need lights of understanding.

Adrián Rodríguez, is perhaps the youngest patient, he is only 19 years old. He says he liked to go out, admire the trees, the countryside, and enjoy to stay in the center. "I'm fine, I find attention, love, peace, freedom, I love this birthday, there's cake, soda, dance, and I kissed the clown."

At his side remains Mirza Cañete Cruz, one of the funniest patients and who was betrayed by nerves after 29 years in one of the most worthy professions: the teaching. Now she is here and appreciates the privilege of finding a collective devoted to their work. "Sometimes I have come to think that I am in a five star hotel. The party is very fun, beautiful, with many initiatives and we all had a wonderful time".

It is very comfortable to see them smile, jump, dance ... Even those who seem absorbed in another galaxy, and at times, they welcome the affectionate gesture. And just at that moment the pride of the people who dedicate their best hours to take care of them with great care multiplies; the same ones capable of discovering the invisible human being in the eyes of others.

Yanelis Labrada Pérez explains "We decided to hold the celebration every three months to change the dynamics of the hospital, with resources from the institution and from the same personnel, many of the patients are abandoned by their relatives and we try to give them the best".

Cameras and cell phones capture the images. It is worthwhile to perpetuate the smiling faces, the dancing, the games, the stolen kiss, and the pushes when breaking the piñata ... and also to the promoters of the activity, who wiped away tears when perceiving them so happy. That, without a doubt, is the best reward.

Tatiana Basterrechea Gordillo, director of the center says "For us this celebration has great significance. Their active participation excites us because we are their family. Fifty-two of the patients of the hospital, designed for 120 beds, have lived here for more than 10 or 15 years. Health staff is prepared to provide quality care; but here they find something more than medical care: love and understanding".

"No to the exclusion of these patients is a motto of mental health," says the director of the hospital

TO LOVE WHAT YOU DO

Alexei Pupo Santana, graduated in Social and Occupational Rehabilitation with nine years of experience, affirms that his profession is the cornerstone in this place.

Alexei teaches hygienic habits to the patients

"We work with the activities of daily life to reincorporate the patients with a minimum of impediments and maximum possible independence.

"People with psychiatric disorders are mistreated and rejected by their families and neighbors, in the streets they are called crazy and in reality they are human beings who unfortunately suffered a mental or physical disability. We give them emotional support and the affection they lack. "

Alexei expresses the satisfaction and pride of sharing with them, and being useful to society. The greatest reward, without a doubt, is to help them live with dignity every day. "The sick people know me and when I arrive after holidays they call me and say hello, it's nice to see that affection and affinity, some of them come to the institution depressed and others beginning with schizophrenia, we are the force they need and we even become in their only family. "

WHEN THE HEART SPEAKS

What is the word that most shocks you? The answer comes without hesitation, not from his throat, but from there, where the existence beats: "Mother", he tells me and pauses like someone who does not need to argue the obvious. But I want to know, and I begin to investigate the whys.

Leodanis Miguel, a 27 year-old patient

"It is the most sacred thing in my life and without her I cannot be happy, my great desire is to have her with me," he says.

Where is she? "My mom left the country like my aunt did, they both raised me and I met my dad a few years ago.

What do you imagine for the future? "I dream that I am next to my brother Cristian Alejandro and that the family has come together again, I think we are happy and we celebrate a birthday. I really need them. "

His innocence and also the mental disability he suffers do not let him see further; he still weaves dreams away from human misery. Leodanis Miguel is a young man of 27 years, with a cautionary tale for all of us who philosophize about the world and we difficult understand that love is the key to unraveling all its mysteries. He knows that well.

In the hospital he receives the affection of people who chose to be his family. However, he suffers the absence of his relatives who carry their blood and, above all, the woman who gave him birth.

"The saddest things I've experienced are losing my grandfather and my uncle, as well as my mother that is not in Cuba and not having a family member who comes to see me at the hospital, I need someone to tell me: you are not alone, because I love you and I am by your side ".

He tells that he wandered in the streets almost naked, picking up cans to sell it to the Raw Materials Company.

"The problem is that I threw myself into abandonment and I thought I was a hopeless drunk, I did not want to take more baths and I started asking for alms to eat, so I do not want to know more about alcohol, I feel good here. They treat patients with affection, they give them food and they ask: do you want more? ... Everything is pure happiness ".

He confesses that years ago, his life was very different. "I was an athlete once and I was in the Carlos Leyva González Children Sport School (EIDE) and then in the Higher School of Athletic Improvement(ESPA) of this province, I became one of the first figures in the long-distance race and middle distance races, and in the National Competition I got the fifth place.

Leodanis does not recognize himself as mentally ill and I certainly came to doubt his condition. His concepts could be worthyfor many "sane people" who are walking around there. It can not be different because he speaks with the transparency that emanates from him.

What is love for you?
"It's the purest, most sacred and benign thing that exists, it can do everything, I fell in love with a girl, but I have to work to get a salary and raise a family with that girl, and take care the children, because I do not want them to walk the streets.Also to be able to help my mother when she gets old tomorrow, and to my whole family ".

And humanity?
"For me it is the most beautiful of the divine creation, so nothing better than getting along, we are all the same, I feel proud to live in this world and every day when it dawns I think I will find good things on the road, always removing the obstacles".

Finally I wonder:

Have you noticed that there are many patients with mental illnesses here?
"Yes, I've already realized that."

How do you think these people should be treated?

"When they're aggressive or they start crying, it's better not to listen to them, they need to talk a lot, and to be aware that they are not alone, you have to give them the good things of the heart."

I ask him to pose for my camera, and a question from him makes me convince myself that the medical diagnosis was not wrong: "You are the one who comes to discharge me?" He says with his face half lost. A smile was my response, while the worker in charge took him by the arm. He returns to his paradise, with his company and solitude in tow.

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