Tropicana Nights: The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub

by Rosa Lowinger

That night they checked in at the University Inn, U.S. Route 441 South, in Gainesville. The next morning Martín was admitted to the J. Hillis Miller Health Center of the University Hospital at Gainesville. His patient number was 047190. After a number of tests, Dr. García Bengochea told him that the only way to get a conclusive diagnosis was by having a myelogram [an X-ray examination that involves injecting fluid to detect abnormalities of the nervous system]. He didn’t recommend that Martín go through it because there was a danger of stroke. Ofelia tried to dissuade him also, but when Martín made up his mind that was it. The myelogram took place the next day—September 24. Ofelia was at Martín’s side and she saw one of his eyelids droop and he began to speak nonsense. She knew immediately that something was wrong. The doctors acted quickly, but Martín had suffered a debilitating stroke.