I challenge fate with my right leg

 Fernando Gomez Castellano immediately knew he would comply what he promised. When he saw me coming, I was greeted with joy in his new home, the most special gift received in 2014 sealed with the commitment of a Revolution that respects and reveres.

Nando, as affectionately known by people was waiting for the interview. Days before he shared his testimony of life, provoking me to visit him again, this time with the aim of knowing how to assume his days without his left leg, accompanied by his crutches and wheelchair that allow him to feel a full man, farmer, able to enforce what the actor Charles Chaplin stated: "May our efforts challenge the impossibilities. Remember the great prowess in history were conquests of what seemed impossible. "

Reporter: After the amputation of your left leg. What is most surprising to Fernando today?

Fernando Gomez Castellano: My willpower. Some days I wake up with an unbearable pain and I can fight it with pills, my inspiration and love for the land.

R: What can you tell us about your childhood?

FG: I was born on August 26th 1950 in Galbis, a rural area of Guaimaro. I learned with my father Fernando Gomez Capote, R.I.P., to plant, work and look after two cows, the only sustenance of the family. I wore shoes for the first time at age nine. When the Revolution triumphed on January 1st 1959, I was so excited and I went out and I sang a fragment of the song by Cuban composer Carlos Puebla that says: "Fun is over; Commander arrived and ordered it to stop." Fidel won, yes, the historic leader who is fortunately still with us.

R: What are the differences between the Fernando before the Revolution and the Fernando of these times?

F.G: Many. The years lived before the 59, I remember them with sadness and pain, yes, I never lacked of love from my parents. Today, I declare myself a proud Cuban. I learned the trades of driver, carpenter and bricklayer. I worked for nine years in the Communal services business. I was acknowledged five times with the National Vanguard condition and now I am retired due to my health problem, I keep the same enthusiasm and I spend time to plant in my small yard, as you see, green again.

R: What´s your biggest satisfaction as a worker?

F.G: Have you heard about the park dedicated to the Cuban Five Antiterrorist fighters? That one in which many people go to talk and rest every day and night. You can not imagine how proud I am when I remember I bequeathed this work coming from my ideas and I could make it real with the help of many people.

R: How would you like people to remind you?

F.G: You know, I love Mexican music and being alone. I live in a comfortable house in which I welcome my friends and my only son Yusdanis Gomez Rojas. To him I say: "The day I die I want people to remember me as the man who was born too humble and defied fate face to face. Ah, don´t cry, not even put flowers or candles, but, bottles of wine instead. Despite everything, life is beautiful. "

Fernando, discapacitado guaimareño que enfrenta la vida con alegría.

Casa de Fernando Gómez Castellano.

Cocina de la casa de Fernando.

Patio de Fernando con algunas de las siembras hechas por él.

Parque dedicado a los Cinco Antiterroristas cubanos, ideado y construido por Fernando y un equipo de trabajadores.