The tragic stories of the toll of the Zika virus in Brazil that will melt your heart...

News24xx.com -  Three years ago, the Zika virus caused thousands of cases of microcephaly and other birth defects in newborns in the South American country.

And nearly 30 mothers who has been contracted with the Zika virus during their pregnancy spoke about their condition through in series of images taken in Brazil.

As quoted from Reuters, most of them had been abandoned by their husbands and were now caring for their affected children around the clock. 

And others have also suffered from depression and decided to suicide. They added their lives had been made tougher because they only received 954 reais (roughly £197) a month in disability to cover all their expenses.

And these are four stories from the victims of the Vika virus :

1. Ana Sophia

Gabriela Alves de Azevedo, 22, lives outside of Olinda, in Pernambuco, with her three-year-old daughter, Ana Sophia, who has microcephaly. The condition leads to arrested brain development, which is marked by a small head size. Ana Sophia also has vision and hearing problems and trouble swallowing.

Her husband left shortly after her daughter’s birth because he could not accept her condition and does not pay child support.  Mrs de Azevedo said, "I went into depression but my family helped me. If it was not for them, I would have gone crazy."

Now, caused the support of her families, Mrs de Azevedo is optimistic for the future and said Ana Sophia’s condition had improved with the help of physical therapy.

2.  Daniel Vieira de Oliveira

Similar with Ana Sophia, Daniel Vieira de Oliveira  has microcephaly. His mother, a cancer survivor Jackeline Vieira de Souza, 28, from Olinda, has been left by her husband shortly after he knows about his son's condition. 

 

3.  Luana Vieira da Silva

Rosana Vieira Alves, 28, has three daughters, but her youngest, Luana Vieira da Silva, three years old has microcephaly. 

She added, "It’s hard to manage the girls, because all of my attention only for Luana. Some of them are jealous, but Luana needs more care. In time, they’ll understand."

And for their lives, she does not have any family support and is overwhelmed by the cost of housing and Luana’s medicines.

4. Maria Giovanna ‘Gigi’ da Silva

Gleyse Kelly da Silva, 28, has help from her husband and mother in caring for Maria Giovanna ‘Gigi’ da Silva. But she was forced to leave her job as a toll attendant. 

Her daughter, Gigi, three years old, needs an orthopedist. Now, Mrs da Silva helped to create a Union of Mothers of Angels to help families that had been affected by microcephaly. 

The group provides advice and logistical support 250 families in Pernambuco. 

 

 

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