Patient who lived 51 years ago at Hospital das Clínicas, USP, dies

Paulo Henrique Machado, a patient who lived for 51 years at the HC (Hospital das Clínicas), USP (University of São Paulo). He lived in hospital after contracting polio as a baby and had to remain in medical care due to the after-effects of the disease.

Two weeks ago, Paulo had posted a live broadcast on his YouTube channel titled “Despite everything, we are alive!” In the video, the patient says that he has “had stomach problems” and explains that he had a gallbladder and that the situation “was a bit complicated.” The man also commented that he was in a lot of pain from the case.

The Hospital das Clínicas sent an official note to the UOL lamenting the death of the patient and reported that “it is in solidarity with Paulo’s family and friends.”

“The Hospital das Clinicas de FMUSP reports with regret the death of the patient Paulo Henrique Machado. Paulo contracted polio as a child and for 51 years he lived in the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology due to the consequences of the disease and the special care that his clinical condition inspired him. Throughout this period he had the humanized and specialized care of the Hospital professionals ”.

Life not Hospital

Paulo had lived at the Hospital das Clínicas since he was one and a half years old. In the 2013 interview with Folha de S.Paulo, Paulo said that his mother died two days after giving birth. As a baby, he had infantile paralysis that reached his respiratory system, forcing him to need the help of an artificial respirator to survive.

Still living in the hospital, Paulo managed to study, learned to read and write, even finished high school and took several computer courses, which he was very passionate about.

It was the proximity to technology, games and geek culture that made him transform his experience into a series of cartoons suitable for children. “The Adventures of Léca and her Friends” addresses the story of seven children with physical disabilities and also reminds Paulo’s friends who did not resist the disease.

“I thought of an animation with disabled people. But he didn’t know if that would pique people’s interest. It was then, watching the animations with disabled characters made by a British studio that I like [Aardman Animations, especializado em animações stop-motion], who did the ‘Fuga das Galinhas’, which I thought was on the right path ”, said the patient at the time.

What is polio?

Polio is a disease caused by poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3, which has no cure and is contagious, but whose transmission has been drastically reduced as a result of vaccines. According to the Ministry of Health, most infected people have no symptoms, but that does not prevent other people from becoming infected. There are still serious manifestations of the disease, as in the case of Paulo, which causes paralysis and can even cause the death of a person.

Nurse writes a message before dying from covid-19