Astoria and facebook friends like Rafael Aleixo Delegredo and the Paralympics 2016 in Rio!
Rafael is a friendly Brazilian man of 28 years old who got paralysed on both legs when he was 18 years old due to an accident in the heavy traffic of Sao Paulo.
After 2 years of rehabilitation in the hospital and many surgeries, playing football was no longer an option (he loved to play). He started to swim and made a career in Brazil and won many medals! But over the last few years he stayed again in the hospital for more surgery and since then Rafael lost his courage.
I knew his story before but never met the man until 2 weeks ago during my vacation in Brazil. To my surprise I saw a depressed lonely man with a room full of medals that almost nobody has seen before. I was very touched and realised that just knowing somebody’s sad story is not enough to really feel the situation. Oh my God! I used to complain so much about stupid things and now I got a well deserved slap in my face! Honestly, when taking the above picture at the beach when my husband (Rafael’s brother) carried Rafael to the sea for a swim I couldn’t keep my tears. I was touched, sad, happy and angry at the same time. Who the hell am I to complain about walking in the Belgian rain when somebody just wants his legs back???
During our stay in Brazil we met also Mr Grilo, a journalist in Sao Paulo, who travels around the world a lot for sports events and who now spoke with Rafael about the 2016 Summer Paralympics which will take place in Rio de Janeiro. Rafael will get ready to get at least 1 more medal!
Without computer it’s not easy these days to make publicity and I strongly had the feeling Rafael needs a hand to lift him up again caring him away from dark thoughts and look forward again to a bright swimming future. Without hesitating we left our iPad so Rafael could start communicating with the outside world starting with a Facebook profile with nice “swim and medals” pictures. In less than a week he got many friends and family who support him on his way to the next medal. Soon he will have also a Facebook page where he can post the latest news about his health and swimming future. (With Google Translate it is easy to understand or even to write him a note to support
I truly hope that everybody who reads this will become friend and/or fan of Rafael Aleixo Delegredo on Facebook and I wish that we all remember we are so lucky when we need to walk in the rain again!