A Journey of Hope and Heartbreak: The Struggles of Healthcare in Vieques.

In Vieques, the struggle to access quality healthcare is proof of their resilience, geography, and an inequitable health system.

My family's story is one of many that underscores the reality faced by this island community.

It began with what seemed like a manageable issue: a family member suffering from severe constipation for a few days. Concerned but hopeful, we sought care in Vieques, but without a functioning hospital, our options were limited to traveling to the main island. The condition worsened, and the decision was made to travel to the main island of Puerto Rico, hoping to find answers in Fajardo.

After hours of travel, waiting, and frantic worry, tests revealed the problem was more severe than we had imagined—an emergency surgery was needed. Despite the urgency of the situation, the medical team showed cautious optimism. "We'll take good care of him," they reassured us. But things took a turn for the worse. Post-surgery complications landed him in the ICU, where we were told he had fallen into a coma—we have doctors in the family, so we started thinking about the worst as not induced, no sedatives, simply brain death.

Yet, even then, hope was offered. The primary doctors provided encouraging updates: "We're monitoring closely," they'd say, or, "There's still a chance he could recover." My family hung to these words, making the daily journey from Vieques to Fajardo. Each day was emotionally and physically draining, filled with endless waiting and fleeting glimmers of reassurance, some of them getting sick from these daily travels.

It wasn't until several days later that they were told the truth: there was no hope. His condition had not improved for weeks, and the decision was made to remove respiratory support, but this was only mentioned to the family after a couple of other family members (doctors) called for information. Still, the information was not given but presumed. The following grief was overwhelming, compounded by the feeling of being misled. Had we been given more explicit information earlier, we could have focused on saying goodbye instead of false hope. This was preventable, and it reminds my family and myself of the need for accountability in Vieques's healthcare system.

The heartbreak did not end there. Weeks after the funeral, a call came from the hospital—his surgeon asking how our loved one was doing. Stunned, we answered, "We think he's doing better. He's been with his Creator for a couple of weeks now."

Miscommunication, false hope, and a lack of clear, compassionate communication added unnecessary layers of pain. For our family, this was more than a medical tragedy; it was a stark reminder of Vieques's systemic neglect.

This isn't just about our family. It's about the thousands of Viequenses who live with the daily reality of not having a hospital and enduring long, costly, and exhausting trips to get basic medical care. It's about a community that feels forgotten—denied equity, dignity, and the fundamental respect of adequate healthcare.

Our loved one's story is a painful example of how the lack of resources and infrastructure in Vieques is not just inconvenient—it's a matter of life and death. It is an urgent call to action for the new people in Puerto Rico to address this inequity and ensure that the people of Vieques are no longer left to suffer in silence.

No family should have to endure this. No community should feel this forgotten.