Interview with Clara's Parents

"It's sad to see Clara trying to caress our faces and not been able to do so"

Carlos and Aline Pereira are Clara's Parents. They are married for seven years. Their biggest dream was to have a baby. When they decided to have a child they didn't care if it would be a girl or a boy. Of course, they also didn't plan to have a "special" child. Despite all Clara's problems her parents love her unconditionally.

Keep reading the interview and see why Clara needs you so much.

Pregnancy

Question: How was the pregnancy? Did you have any problem that could give you a "clue" of what was coming?

Answer (Carlos & Aline): My pregnancy was wonderful. Though my blood type is negative and my husband's is positive, we made a serious medical follow up, so, I had no problem at all.

Birth

Question: How was Clara's birth?

Answer (C&A): The labor was ok up to the deliver time. Doctors don't know how to explain why Clara didn't "go down". I (Carlos) was watching everything. After a few tries doctor looked at me and said: "That's it! There's nothing else we can do! Do you authorize a surgery (Caesarean operation) to save the baby?" -Yes, of course, I said! -Do whatever it takes!

Doctors started the procedures, and a few minutes later I saw Clara coming out Aline's belly. Immediately I saw that something was very wrong. Clara didn't cried. Just a big silence. That's not what you expect from a birth! I went to check how things where going and I saw Clara for the first time (see the pictures). She was like "sleeping" and her breath was very weak. It's unnecessary to say that I started to cry right away. Aline (my wife) was under effect of anesthesia, so she was sleeping too. The assistant doctor saw me crying and told me to hold on, so Aline wouldn't see me in that way. She told me to trust in the doctor that was taking care of Clara and to ask for God's help.

Right after the birth, Clara was taken into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A few days (and a few exams) later Clara was diagnosed with a Neurologic Damage. This is called Cerebral Palsy.

The "days after"

Question: What happened in the following days?

Answer (C&A): Clara spent 18 days in the ICU. We went to the hospital every single day. We just were not inside ICU when we were not allowed to. We took just a few pictures of that time. That's because we don't want to keep a record of how difficult that days were. For example, I didn't want to take any picture of her being fed by a tube, or a picture of her all "wired".

During these 18 days we believe that our loving support for Clara was very important so she could get good enough to go home. Every time we could we were with Clara in our arms, sing for her, touching her, talking to her. This helped her to stay "just" 18 days in ICU.

At home

Question: How is it to have a baby with Cerebral Palsy?

Answer (C&A): Cerebral Palsy affects motor skills, so, anything that a baby needs to use a muscle is done in a very difficult way. When they get to do it, of course. I use to say to my wife that's like to take care of twins. We just can hold Clara in "special" positions, so her brain knows what's the correct one (Usually this "positions" are very uncomfortable for us). Since Clara doesn't sit down, it's quite difficult to feed her, for example. Changing her diapers sometimes is hard because her legs get too stiff.

Clara also has problems to drink liquids. This is a very tough thing because we live in Brazil in a very hot place! Imagine what can happen to a baby that doesn't have all the necessary liquids she needs in a very hot day!

It's sad to see Clara trying to caress our faces and not been able to do so.

However we were blessed with a extremely beautiful and "polite" little girl. Even with motor problems, Clara always has a smile to offer. Always! Her smile is contagious and she is a very "good" little girl. She behaves much better than a so-called "normal" baby.

Plans for Clara - Purpose of this website

Question: What are you doing and what are you planning to do to help Clara?

Answer (C&A): Today, Clara does every therapy we can afford. Brazilian Government doesn't offer anything, so, we looked for a philanthropic institution where Clara receive some treatments.

However, we are aware that all these treatments are trying just to "remediate" Clara's problems. Making a research at the internet we found many successfull stories of Cerebral Palsy patients who benefited from Stem Cells Treatment in China. Here in Brazil we don't have this treatment avaliable.

We can't afford for this treatment, since it's quite expensive. That's why we created this website: To raise funds to take Clara to China, so she can have a better life.

As parents we want to see our daughter to sit down, to crawl, to speak, to walk, to grab things. We want her to have a normal life, doing everything that she can't do today.

We are sure that Stem Cells Treatment can make all these things come true for Clara.

That's why we need YOUR help. Donate, at least One Dollar, to help Clara.

So, if you feel yourself touched by Clara's story, donate or spread this website! Have a nice day and may God give you twice what you donate to Clara!