There are voices that never die, laughter that never forgets, hugs that last forever. And there is the news that even if you expect it, it burns, hurts, leaves you cold, breaks you a little. “Dr. María Amparo Pascual López, a distinguished scientist and forerunner of clinical studies in Cuba, has passed away.” It was July 25th.

We met María Amparo a few years ago, but from the beginning we had the feeling that we had always known her. She entered our family without knocking on the door, there was no need, it seems that we were waiting for her, as well as her daughter, our dear Lupe Poussin, the wife of our nephew Jota, the mother of one of the three most beautiful beings. on the ground: Maximiliano Izurieta, yes, just like that with five I!, as our hundred-year-old mother exclaimed.

María Amparo Pascual was that Cuban sister who brought us her grace and her coffee from time to time. That intelligent, uncomplicated, sweet, single sister without prejudice.

We share books, hugs, laughter. Long conversations in which we created the world together. Big hugs where we shared mutual love. Laughter, bowing, laughter that made us “extend the minutes”, as she said.

On one occasion we shared the sea. Her happiness infected us, everyone laughed when, with the cold water of the Pacific up to her waist, she said: “Girl in this place in Varadero you can still see your feet.”

For us, she was that transparent sea, she was that Cuban sun, that mojito and that coffee that always had the taste of friendship, brotherhood.

A researcher and specialist in public health, Ampere, as Paz nicknamed her, was an important scientist, the founder of the National Coordination Center for Clinical Trials and the first specialist in biostatistics in Cuba. “When clinical trials in Cuba seemed like a utopia, her knowledge, vision and persistence led her to found the institution to which she dedicated more than 30 years of her life… Under her guidance and direction, a national network was created. clinical trials; Leading products have been evaluated and registered… an academic development strategy has been designed and implemented…”

He sought and received support from the countries of America and Europe, managed to implement and internationally certify the quality management system; established and implemented a number of projects. The BBC recognized her as one of the most accredited scientists, and the MEDICC Review magazine did an interview with her under the title “The Power of Perseverance”. The thing is that María Amparo worked in that “revolutionary” and insecure Cuba; in that Cuba that changed our dreams and stole many of ours; In the one who lost her compass and went astray, she didn’t stop working, believing, creating, doing her revolution.

About his contribution to science, his grace and simplicity would take 5 pages. It will take us a long time to live this grief, to get used to that huge absence, to that quiet voice, to that sister who was.

I don’t know why I say yes, if we all know that there are voices that are not silenced, laughter that is not forgotten, hugs that last forever, and María Amparo Pascual will always be in our memories. (OR)