The family of 40-day-old baby Arthur Morais Oliveira is mobilizing a fundraising campaign to cover the costs of his air transfer and heart surgery in another state, as he requires specialized treatment outside of Acre.
Arthur Morais Oliveira, who has a heart condition, has been hospitalized for almost a week in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Bárbara Heliodora Maternity Hospital, located in Rio Branco. He is awaiting transfer to a hospital in another federation unit to undergo heart surgery.
Arthur and his twin brother were born together on September 17th. While the other baby is in good health, Arthur showed health problems in the first few days of life. Antônio Ison de Oliveira, Arthur's 39-year-old father, informed g1 that his son depends on oxygen support and needs to be transported in an air ICU, as traveling by commercial flight is not feasible. The family is awaiting confirmation of the date, time, and destination of this transfer.
When contacting the State Health Secretariat of Acre (Sesacre) for details about the transfer, it was communicated that, because he is a minor, the information is shared exclusively with the family.
According to Antônio, the family noticed differences in Arthur after he came home. He observed that his twin brother had a faster development and did not have the same health problems. Initially, Arthur cried unusually, suddenly turned blue, and his body did not develop adequately.
On the 21st, at one month and three days old, Arthur suffered a sudden deterioration of his clinical condition. Antônio reported that his wife took him to the emergency room, where he was intubated and placed in an incubator. After this event, the baby remained in the hospital environment, at which time the diagnosis of heart disease—a heart malformation—was confirmed.
The father mentioned that Arthur urgently needs surgery outside the state, indicating that the likely location would be São Paulo. The family's main concern is ensuring Arthur's safe transport to the procedure site.
Antônio expressed great optimism, stating that there is a cure and that the doctor guaranteed a 100% chance of resolving the problem after the surgery, which sustains the family's hope.
The family is organizing the necessary documentation with the Out-of-Home Treatment (TFD), but faces a logistical impasse because both twins are still breastfeeding, complicating the decision of who will accompany the transfer.
The medical team warned that Arthur could remain in Acre for a maximum period of two to three weeks. Antônio described the family's state of uncertainty, living with fear that the child might no longer withstand the condition or become ill, given the continuous need for oxygen.
Financial Challenges
In addition to the medical issues, Antônio revealed that he had to leave his job to dedicate himself to the bureaucracy and preparations for the transfer. His wife does not work to care for the children, including Arthur and his twin brother, as well as two other children. Thus, Antônio Ison de Oliveira Freire, 39, and his wife, Gigliane Morais do Nascimento, are seeking financial support to cover the travel expenses, which do not yet have a set date.
The collected resources should also help relatives who will remain in Acre with the couple's children. Antônio justified the need for help, explaining that he had to leave his job and give up rights to deal with the complex documentation.
The family continues to await guidance from TFD on how to organize the situation, especially considering the twins' breastfeeding. While waiting for the trip to be defined, Antônio maintains faith that Arthur will undergo the surgery and recover, wishing only what is necessary to keep his son alive and healthy.
