Show my face Brazil.

by Renata da Conceição Santos (Brazil)

I didn't expect to find Brazil

Sounds of feet hitting the ground, gourds hitting each other, and the drumbeat seemed to be approaching. I slowly opened my eyes and, with difficulty, saw lights in the sky, they looked like coconut trees infiltrated by the sun. Beside me, at the height of the exposed thigh, a woman tied a leaf around my thigh with strips of bamboo with something seasoned and wet. The woman was an indigenous girl. She must have been about 12, her nipples looked like two lemons. My curious look was lost, trying to understand what had happened. The red-skinned girl came out of the tent and seemed to be inviting someone, the language she spoke must be Tupi; my cousin Marcelo appeared: - “Renata, how are you? We had an accident. " It was unbelievable. And he continued: - ”A cow entered the middle of the curve where we were passing, the seat belt helped, but the accident was intense and you were thrown against the glass, piercing your head and had a deep cut in the thigh, the Socorro is coming. It's gonna be okay!" I passed out soon after, and when I woke up, I didn't feel as much pain as before. I felt numb. - "The team came to take you to the Regional Hospital of Marabá!" An Indian spoke, who became the chief's grandson. He spoke my language. Maraba, the destination of our trip from the beginning. - "But first, my grandfather wants to talk to you." said the village boy. At the Marabá Regional Hospital, 40 minutes from the village, southeastern Pará, in Brazil, we went to the Neonatal ward for children. Elena who was in the corridor, Marcelo's wife, hugged him tightly. I could feel the intensity of the problem. Get medical attention, luckily, because the wounds weren't serious, but I need some stitches. I did the hygiene procedure before entering the Neonatal ICU and I was not on the third on the right, the real reason for the trip, our little girl Sara, only three years old. She lost weight. I told her that we would be coming home soon, she looked at me in confirmation. Although the environment seems heavy, I admired the work of those people, dedicating their dawns there, taking care and treating. Doctors and nurses: - "If I could, I would adopt them all!" I thought out loud. - "You can." Said a doctor next to me. She must have been about 32 years old. She looked at me hopefully: - “The best experiences of my life were in hospitals, in rooms like these and believe me, there are still many children in even worse situations. Few can be so good with children. ”. At that moment, it seemed to make sense for the words that the older man, Cacique, told me, when we were still in Aldeia Gavião, with the Indians of Parkategês: - “Daughter of the forest, let your branches grow, do not reject the rain that falls from the sky anymore. You are chosen! " The pediatric woman, with hair as curly as mine, interrupted my thoughts: - "You should try!" - "Sorry, what did you say?". She didn't know, but I tried for three long years to enter medical school. I lost time, weight and became an even more insecure person. I decided to stop trying. Sara was discharged eight hours after our visit to her. We were so impressed, so happy and euphoric. The father, Marcelo, did not stop playing with Sara. That was great! On the way back, I talked about how delicate the woman who took care of Sara was and how happy it made me: - "After all, what is her name again?" I asked. - "Renata!" Elena said, half smiling. Marcelo held out his hand and handed me a photo. - "Dr. Renata asked to deliver this to you." A photo of the Gavião tribe, where I was hospitalized by the Parkateges, behind the photo had a biblical Christian reference: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1: 9. Something changed in me.