Since loving is a way to grow and serving is to give oneself, Jenny Guanche Ramírez chose nursing at a very young age and she succeeded. She studied her degree, became a specialist in the Comprehensive Medical Emergency System, which she practiced at Mártires de Mayarí Hospital and for the last 10 years she has been leading, with magnificent results, the socio-humanitarian project “My love for you”.
What does the project consist of?
“We started working without thinking of a specific name. The important thing was to support children in need of medicines, supplies and other resources, for which we always count on the population that, in the case of our municipality, is very supportive, as are most Cubans”.
Any particular motivation that inspired you?
“In addition to the human sensitivity of an intensivist nurse like me, who treated so many critical cases, I was inspired to start this project by the loss of a sister I loved very much and the cancer affliction of my niece. Such feelings led me to consult my neighbor, Maria Segura, about the possibility of supporting some patients with our own resources and other people’s donations. She agreed and so we started our humanitarian work, with the support of the cooperative farm, which was then called Niceto Perez”.
Where did you make your first donation?
“Our first contact was with the oncology ward of the Octavio de la Concepción y de la Pedraja Pediatric Hospital, which is a true place of love and life. There our project was born, thanks to the beloved social worker Esther María Rodríguez Vargas (deceased), who took us to where I was able to meet three children who remained connected, for life, to artificial ventilation equipment.
“But the current name of the Project is due to the special relationship we had with one of those children, who was from Gibara, to the extent that we suffered in a very particular way his death and shared with his family such painful hours. With his mother’s consent we used his image in the pullover that identifies the members of the project. She is very supportive and says that the little boy is also my son.
“On this matter, Jenny commented that, due to the conditions of the child, they dedicated a lot of time to him and he even sent nice words to these people from Mayari when we went to see him at the children’s hospital (built 53 years ago by Fidel’s idea and in which some 25 specialties are attended)”.
Since loving is a way of growing and serving is giving oneself, Jenny Guanche Ramírez chose nursing at a very young age and she succeeded. She studied her degree, became a specialist in the Comprehensive Medical Emergency System, which she practiced at Mártires de Mayarí Hospital and for 10 years she has been leading, with magnificent results, the socio-humanitarian project “My love for you”.
How does this socio-humanitarian group that you lead work?
“We created and maintain this project, made up of five women, a larger number of men and the indispensable support of many Mayarí villagers, the People’s Power, the public health directorate and Radio Mayarí.
“Closer to me are, Martica, a young treasurer; Susel, in English translation; a beautiful little clown and Wilmer, the journalist from Radio Mayari.
“We meet twice a month to evaluate the proposals of who we are going to attend and then, each one works in his area of residence, in search of the necessary support, without whose contributions it would be impossible to work in what we do, although each one of us contributes between two thousand and three thousand pesos to buy what is necessary and make some meals to certain sick people, as well as to some grandparents’ homes.
“Even though it would be impossible to meet all the needs, this project, in addition to Mayarí and Moa, has maintained its support to the pediatric hospital and recently to the Lucía Iñiguez Surgical Clinic in Holguín, and has even made some contributions to Las Tunas and Santiago de Cuba. I hope that someday we can make better and greater contributions, but that does not only depend on us”.
Besides the individual and collective contributions, do you have any special donor?
“Although it is not convenient to offer many details in this regard, we have a supportive friend who, for more than two years, has been providing us with essential medicines for very needy people and hospital care. We are grateful for this and hope that it will continue. We have also been able to provide other medicines, supplies, wheelchairs and walkers to children and young people, whose families are very grateful.
“Jenny is very grateful to all the people and organizations that support the project, such as the Government of Mayarí, which also provides them with transportation to travel to Moa, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín and other places, to deliver donations or receive certain shipments.
“We are aware that we cannot meet all the needs, but we have plenty of willingness and love to do everything we can and for that many doors have been opened for us. That is the truth, and we are grateful for it, aware that loving and serving is the best way to grow”.
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