The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
– ‘Live for today’ —
The parents say they would like to have more children. But they are all too aware of the constant attention and resources Miguel requires. So they are putting that off until Thamires completes a nursing course she had to give up and is able to work again.
For now, Miguel is their sole focus. When they can, they take him to children’s parties, and to the beach. For his last birthday, they invited other mothers with infants with microcephaly.
But there are many low moments. In Miguel’s short life so far, he has already been admitted into intensive care eight times.
They find succor in the advice they first received from doctors: never give up.
“Live for today. Miguel could live for 10, 20 years — or two or three. But if you don’t live, you will feel frustrated in the future for all you didn’t experience, they told me,” Thamires said.
“So I will bathe him, kiss him, take in his smell. Because at any moment they could put him in hospital.”
