Adriano—Help him walk again!

Hello! Olá!

My name is Chris Yerlig, and I'm raising funds to help a young man, Adriano, from southeastern Brazil. He’s the son of a good friend, Eliana. I visited the whole family there in 2023. The following is his story. (Identities have been changed for security reasons. See below*).

Adriano with his family and friends, after a magic show I performed in 2023. 

In 2017, Adriano, a 21-year-old father of two girls (aged 4 and 1 at the time), was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle in his hometown, which is about a day's drive from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was not blamed for the accident, but his injuries left him with a broken spine (in 3 places), a severely damaged foot, and bladder problems. He has been disabled and living with a catheter ever since. He tried to return to work at the little restaurant he ran--a job he loved. But, being unable to stand or walk and the intense back pain made working too challenging. Sadly the restaurant had to close.

Adriano's foot has healed poorly, his leg muscles have atrophied, and his spine has not healed properly. Doctors said that unless he receives urgent surgical intervention and advanced physical therapy, he will remain permanently disabled and unable to restart his life. His bladder needs complicated surgery too. His chances for recovery are waning, but the medical expenses required are high. Unfortunately, the healthcare system in Brazil is underdeveloped and cannot help him. The initial surgeries cost around US$2500, but the rest may cost up to US$15,000...or more.

Above photo: Yours truly with friend,  Eliana, Adriano's mother, and his daughter, Vitória. Eliana’s daughter Luciana, and Adriano’s girlfriend, take care of him now. Adriano's and Luciana's father died when they were young, and Adriano's marriage fell apart following the fallout from the accident. He loves his daughters (now 7 and 12), who see him every day, but now he cannot provide for them or do much with them. Sadly, he has to miss outside activities his girls take part in.

Adriano's treatment must happen soon because the window of medical opportunity is closing. Eliana has been trying to raise medical expenses but work in Brazil doesn’t pay enough. She worked in England 2021-2022, and is now in Portugal (since late 2023). It’s a shame she has no choice but to be away from the family for long periods. 

One driver’s carelessness and limited healthcare resources have devastated this young man's life and severely impacted those of the other family members. I have been very touched by Eliana's and Adriano's stories, and I would love to be able to help them soon.

                           THANK YOU!

On my travels to Brazil, India and other countries, I present free magic and mime programs to bring laughter to underprivileged people.

(*Security: Names have been changed to protect the family from those who may try to take advantage of donations from abroad).