Mauricio Updates Post-Amputation

Video above: Our story in 40 seconds

***Please see updates below for the latest on our story. On March 28th, 2020 Mauricio's left leg was amputated above the knee in an emergency procedure to save his life. About $60,000 of what we have raised so far covered our hospital bills in the DR. After being stuck in the DR for an additional 50 days after the amputation without follow-up support due to the pandemic, we received the most generous offer of our lives: Pro-bono treatment in Ireland that ended up providing us with one of the best microprocessor knees and prosthetic legs available. The remainder of what we have fundraised supported us with the very expensive rent in Dublin while on my non-profit salary and until Mau could start looking at what he is able to do for work. We are also trying to save money to be able to make sure Mau has access to quality legs throughout his life - each knee (~$60,000) only lasts about 6 years and the other parts of the leg (~$5,000) have to be updated every ~6 months for the first year and then every few years for the rest of his life. Losing a limb shouldn't be as expensive as it is to return to an active, healthy lifestyle. Eventually we both plan to do everything we can to make sure other amputees have access to opportunities and community so we can help them through the way you have all helped us. We remain overwhelmingly grateful for all the support - past, present, future. You have saved our lives. 

The story from the beginning:

What a crazy time in this world to be asking for financial support. Here I am. While the world is experiencing a shared global trauma I find myself in a terrifying personal trauma. 

My name is Nora Dooley (and I am from Boston, MA, USA). My partner is Mauricio Cardoso. We met 4 years ago in Brazil. Mauricio grew up playing futsal on the streets with his neighbors - now his best friends. From 2016-2019, he spent his days working for a non-profit organization in his community, coaching and playing with kids, using sport as a tool for personal development and learning. And he spent his nights at university, completing his degree in Physical Education.

I work for an organization that partners with the NGO he worked for to support leaders like Mauricio in their work with youth. Most recently we traveled together to the Dominican Republic where a project with CONCACAF Women brought us to lead a coach training for more than 30 women and over 150 girls for International Women's Day. Mauricio joined me to support my work and see some of the island. 

Unfortunately, in our travels, our car hydro-planed on a sharp curve and slid off the road. The car was banged-up; we were fine. Deep breaths, shaking a bit, we got out of the car to analyze the damage. I began calling the rental car assistance line. Mauricio went a few feet off to see if he could help me find out where we were...

Then nightmare.

Another car slipped on the same rain, the same harsh curve, turned and smashed into Mauricio's leg. He managed to jump slightly which likely saved his life, but his left leg is in real danger. Mauricio's travel insurance will not cover the extent of the healthcare services that he needs to recover from this disaster. 

We are grateful for his life, fighting off infection every day, and lucky to have the emotional support of family and friends and great doctors in the DR.

Mauricio is 6 surgeries in and will need more. He has 3 bone fractures (two in his tibia and one in his fibula) and severely damaged muscle and skin tissue. We have been in the hospital for 2 weeks and likely need another month of treatment.

The hospital is our new home. A hospital couch is my new bed. 

We are strong; we are vulnerable; we are lucky; and we don't like to ask for help. But we need it.

Any support from $5 to however much you can afford to help in his recovery - we are now and forever grateful.

(GoFundMe has requested me to add: these funds will pay for Mauricio's hospital costs which as of April 6th have totaled to over $60,000. If we raise enough money the funds will also be used to pay for Mauricio's physical therapy and a prosthesis.. The funds will be withdrawn into my US bank account so that I can pay these bills). 

This is Mauricio in neon green, coaching rugby at a non-profit organization in his community, a little less than a year before this accident.