Between 33 and 35 years old - the fresh start - part II

When my daughter was born, it was like the sun was rising... in that moment, in one look, I knew that there was nothing in the world that I didn't love more... But, as always, I felt... I immediately felt something wrong in the eyes of my beautiful star. I wondered if I wasn't overreacting and that, from the emotion of the moment, I wasn't too scared of fatherhood.

Well, a few minutes later, the pediatrician came to talk to me. My mother-in-law was next to me.. I immediately instinctively asked if everything was okay. That's when the trick of life began... the pediatrician said that my daughter had down syndrome, that my life would be very difficult and that if I was lucky my daughter wouldn't be retarded. That was like I had been punched by Rocky Balboa and gone to the canvas. I remember my mother-in-law telling the pediatrician: "Calm down, doctor!! He just became a father!!". I left there as if my world had been imploded... I sat in the maternity ward and cried for hours... at that moment, I was deconstructing that world I had imagined... imagining if and how I would be able to raise my daughter. I was desolate with shock...

In the next 04 hours, with my father by my side, I cried, lamented, screamed, despaired... wondering if I would have the ability to be a good father to my daughter. Until at the moment, I stopped crying and got up. My father said "What are you going to do my son?" I said the only sentence that couldn't get out of my head: "Dad, she's my daughter and I'm going to take care of her the best way I can."

I went to my wife, who was also devastated. I told her that we were going to raise Rebeca with a lot of love and dedication and that I would turn heaven and earth so that my daughter would have what she needed. And so it was... with 15 days, my daughter ended up in the hospital. That's how it happened, the comings and goings in the hospital. As she had the syndrome, her routine was physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapist... there was no lack of love, there was no lack of affection, there was no lack of life....

And I, as a father, started my journey of overcoming each day, each week, working and taking care of my family... I thought Rebeca wouldn't make it past the first year... Everything we did was for her and for her... I couldn't live more in her and that beautiful and passionate smile of a pure soul... an angel of light!

I couldn't stop without talking about my wife... a warrior... an example of a mother, tireless and dedicated. Every day, I saw her hand on our daughter's face, expression and growth... and so, my angel began to blossom and we learned from her... And so, we saw that life had not given us a trick, but rather, a life lesson, a learning experience, a chance to be better and better.

Thus, the end of the year has arrived and we are doing everything we can to thank the gift we received... "Her life has just begun, but for those who accompany her, life has become more beautiful, sweeter and more beautiful, ours life evolved and we became something that we all should be, beloved human beings and lovers".

Thus, the little star began to radiate its magic and its light....

Ah... and the "badaró"? He was there, always with us, always a friend, always faithful... a squire of light... a friend of Rebeca...