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Covid-19 may have abruptly ended the life of Nilton Barreto dos Santos, who died at age 34 on the night of May 4, but did not end his mission.
To the young doctor of a meteoric race and that, coincidentally, he was investigating the impact of the novel coronavirus on the central nervous system, tissue samples were taken from his lungs, heart and brain after his death so that the research he carried out on him- even developed with his colleagues can continue to move forward.
Santos’ family, who authorized the autopsy, want to help solve the mysteries of a virus that has killed millions of people around the world and left consequences that science still does not fully understand.
“We are authorizing the collection of tissue samples from Nilton’s lungs, heart and brain to better understand this disease. For example, why it affects young people without comorbidities (coexisting diseases) like him, and to prevent other families from going through the suffering that we are going through, ”explains engineer Smia Maracape, Nilton’s widow, to BBC Brazil.
“I want to be able to carry on his legacy in one way or another,” he says. A legacy of love through research and science.
A young promise
Born in Abaetetuba, inside the Brazilian state of Par, Nilton moved to the suburb of that state’s capital, Belm, where he met his future wife Smia: they were both neighbors and studied in the same school.
They started dating in high school and had been together for 16 years.
At Belm, Nilton studied for a bachelor’s and master’s degree neuroscience and biology cell phone at Federal University of Par.
Nilton Barreto dos Santos and his tutor, Carolina Munhoz.
In 2012, he moved to Sao Paulo, where he enrolled at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB) of the University of the capital, USP.
There he obtained his doctorate and two post-doctorates: he studied the brain inflammation process, mainly caused by stress, and how it affects the functioning of cells, contributing to the development of diseases such as depression.
A scholarship abroad
His research effort paid off last year: Nilton received a scholarship in an exchange program at Mount Sinai Hospital, one of the most prestigious in the United States.
But the covid-19 pandemic has changed their plans. The trip, what it was supposed to happen in january 2020, was postponed to January of the following year.
“The US consulate suspended the issuance of visas and soon after, the borders were closed. Since arriving in Sao Paulo, Nilton’s dream has been an internship abroad, ”explains his tutor, Carolina Munhoz, professor in the ICB / USP department. Pharmacology.
“He was brilliant and sensational, a person we loved to work with. He has always thought of the collective, ”he adds.
Carolina remembers that Nilton had just published a study he co-wrote in the famous scientific journal Nature Neuroscience.
What hurts me the most about all of this is that [Nilton] was really at the peak of his career and about to reap the rewards of their hard work, ”he laments.
“He was preparing to enter a competition. He had an unbeatable CV, but even the competitions were suspended. There was no vacancy.”
Nilton was considered a promising young man by his peers.
But Nilton I haven’t lost hope. Despite his frustration with the forced change of plans, he began to pursue research, alone and with other colleagues, into the impact of the coronavirus on the central nervous system.
The aim was to understand whether the virus, which attacks and kills neurons, can increase the propensity for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia.
“Nilton was very curious, a fundamental characteristic of any scientist. When the pandemic hit Brazil and things got worse, our activities were put on hold. And we started, with our limits, to investigate the matter, ”says Carolina.
“We were trying to establish a correlation, if the severity of infection in the central nervous system corresponds to the severity of the pulmonary infection, but we have not been able to prove this with the samples available to us. ”
Contagion and hospitalization
Although the coronavirus temporarily halted the couple’s plans to spend a season abroad, Nilton and Smia were having “the best time” of their lives, she said.
“When Nilton arrived in Sao Paulo in 2012, we spent two years away. In 2014, I came. I am an engineer by training, but by necessity I worked in stores and in a bakery. When Nilton got the internship and I passed my teacher, it was the first time we could get out of these difficulties. ”
Nilton with his family and friends.
Smia doesn’t know how Nilton got COVID-19. And why wasn’t he the only one in the family living in Sao Paulo to develop the most severe symptoms of the disease.
“We have been very careful. We never stop wearing masks, avoiding crowds and cleaning our food. But Nilton was the only one who got worse. He was in very good health and had no comorbidities. ”
“He had 90% of his lungs compromised and his condition worsened very quickly.”
Nilton was hospitalized for two months at Emilio Ribas Hospital in Sao Paulo, a benchmark institution in the treatment of covid-19. He died on May 5.
“A few weeks before his death, we were able to visit him in the intensive care unit (ICU). He was very tired, but he interacted. He was concerned about the political situation in Brazil. We have always been very progressive. We have always strived for quality public education and he for research, and this is a sector that has suffered consecutive cuts. ”
“He was also happy to know that his parents had been vaccinated finally”.
Grief and anger
Smia still struggles to cope with the pain of grief.
“Nilton is my pillar. He always supported me professionally, he made me better, he knew every smile and every feeling I had, without a doubt he was the person who knew me best. It’s very difficult“, dice.
“I don’t know what my life will be like from now on, how I can stay home surrounded by memories of him all the time.
“He was my first boyfriend, my husband, the love of my life. I have been fortunate enough to have good and stable love for 16 years, and I can only thank God for this opportunity,” adds he does.
The sentiment is shared by Nilton’s sister, Neucy, who lives in Belm.
“He continues to live in each of us. He was a wonderful brother, a great son, always caring about everyone.”
“He was very protective, he was always by my side“.
Nilton with his parents and siblings.
Smia, with the support of her family, decided to authorize Nilton’s organ donation.
Parts of his lungs, heart and brain were collected for further research. The goal is to try to understand why a patient without any comorbidity has developed so seriously.
“We will never cease to miss him. But we are very proud of him, and of the feeling that he has fulfilled his role and continues his mission. Even after his death, the investigation will continue and we hope that he will be able to save others, people, ”says Neucy.
But Smia and her family not only have to deal with the pain of grief, but also indignacine.
“I am very angry. Nilton died of a disease for which there is already a vaccine. He was assassinated by a genocidal government,” she said, referring to the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro.
“We have a government that does not believe in science, that does not invest in research, who hates teachers. It’s very cruel, ”he concludes.
Nilton leaves behind two parents, Nilton and Maria Nrcia; two sisters, Ndia and Neucy, and his wife Smia, as well as a dozen friends, many scientists like him.
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