Eda Maria Vider, a housewife who has been facing serious health complications for three years, needed the support of her neighbor, Juarez Ferreira Vargas, to go to the polling station and vote in the city of Campo Grande. Due to her limitations in walking and breathing, she uses an oxygen cylinder to move around.
Eda has an aneurysm and advanced lung disease. Her medical history is marked by seven strokes (CVA) and two heart attacks. In the first round of elections, she was unable to vote due to both her health conditions and the rain.
She described her difficulty, stating: 'I cannot breathe because it feels like I'm going to have a heart attack. Then my throat closes up and I can't speak.' When questioned by g1, Eda explained that in the first round, she stayed home because of the heavy rain, as exposure, even to light drizzle, can worsen her health condition and require hospitalization.
Eda emphasized that transportation is complicated even with assistance, since someone is needed to hold the heavy cylinder. To be able to vote this time, she relied on the support of Juarez Vargas. He mentioned that he had already tried to assist her in the first round, but the rain prevented him from taking her to the polling place.
Juarez justified his initiative by his proximity to Eda and his belief in the importance of helping those in need. He declared: 'We help one person, maybe next time we need help too. We don't just live for today; one needs the other. Everyone needs each other.' For him, solidarity is essential to overcome daily challenges, adding: 'Everything is worth it for friendship. The strength we give to the next person, we receive twofold.'