I was speaking to a patient the other day who was about to travel to Cuba. She is of Cuban descent, and she was born here in the US. She had mixed feelings about the trip, and would never have done it while her Cuban father was alive. He absolutely refused to return until the country was free.

I have other Cuban friends and patients, and the dividing line seems to be similar. The older generation wants nothing to do with the Castro government and is resentful of what they endured. The children are a bit unsure, but most want to see the island firsthand.

My patient told me that her children wanted to see where they were from, the places in the stories that there grandfather told them. The house where he was born, the building that he owned that is now home to 20 families. Even though he still has the deeds, there is virtually no hope of reclaiming it.

I understand both sides, and do not want to help a regime that has oppressed its people for so long unless my visit can somehow improve the quality of life of the people of the island. But how can I do that?

For now, I will wait and see what the future brings. There is no right answer, only what each person feels.