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A story of Hope: Maryane da Silva Magalhães is a 4 year old who has Vasculitis after varicella.

HOW DID THE FAMILY ARRIVE?

Maryane’s family was admitted at ASC on July 30, 2008. The father, Mauricio (23/01/1977), the mother Ana Paula (06/05/1977), and brothers Pedro Otavio (05/03/1994) - who lived with the maternal grandmother - Michael (30/05/1996) and Matheus (14/04/1999). Maryane was hospitalized at Hospital da Lagoa with an infection on both legs due to measles. She developed vasculitis after being affected by a devastating chickenpox (varicella). Her condition was serious and there was no expectation of when she could be discharged. Due to this health complication, Maryane had to have both legs amputated (one above the knee and the other below the knee) and also her left hand.

The family lived in their own house in Bangu (RJ), with no title for the property. The paternal grandmother divided her own property, building a wall and donating the back for the family to live. The house was really in poor condition. Her dad worked legally, as a Manson’s helper earning a minimum wage of R$ 415.00. Her mother worked as a house cleaner and earned around R$ 200.00 a month. The three brothers were studying.

EVOLUTION

With the paternal grandmother passing away, the family decided to occupy the front of the house where the condition was much better. The house has one bedroom, a living room and a bath. Because of the lack of space, all children slept in the bedroom and the parents in the living room. The house floor is all broken, which makes the cleaning a little harder. A clean environment would be ideal for Maryane since her only way of locomotion is to drag herself on the floor. All the walls have water infiltration. The house in the back also has water infiltration and the family has just received all the documentation for the property, which is vital for ASC to initiate the renovations. The plan is to open the wall that separates the back and the front, so the house will have 2 bedrooms and an extra bathroom. ASC also plans to fix the water infiltration and the floors.

Maryane is in good health at the moment, getting adapted to the prosthesis. She is going to school, where she uses a wheelchair donated by Hospital Oscar Clark, specialized in rehabilitation of handicap people. The doctors responsible for the treatment are Dr. Patricia and Dr. Ari. She will get physical therapy to learn how to use the prosthesis. She continues physical and speech therapies in the CEAD (a clinic specialized on this kind of treatment), which also contributes to her recovery. She is a happy, active child and her family is very optimistic and enthusiastic about her progress. Maryane is receiving Social Security (INSS) benefits in the value of a minimum salary plus the family fee of R$ 108.00.

Her brothers continue to study. Matheus is in 4th grade and Michael in 5th grade. Pedro Otavio still lives with the maternal grandmother. The father, Mauricio, went back to work informally as a Mason’s assistant. He was very happy taking a culinary course at ASC but he had to stop to work full-time.

The father is the person who normally takes Maryane to ASC, since she requires special care and many times her mother cannot accompany her. The couple informed us that they have been to a family plan clinic and are using adequate birth control. This is a family that progressed well in ASC. They committed to the project and met the goals that will help them restructure their family.

 

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Dr. Vera Cordeiro is an ASHOKA fellow, AVINA leader, Social entrepreneur SCHWAB and SKOLL FOUNDATION and a Member of PATH.