OTELINDO

For nearly fifteen years, Otelindo carried the weight of a harrowing nightmare, enduring shame and embarrassment. Local children, misinformed and unkind, pelted him with rocks, viewing him as a monster. This ordeal confined him mostly to his home in Picos Santo Tiago, Cape Verde.

One day, while perusing my friend Ze Luis Martins' Facebook page, I stumbled upon the image of a sad yet beautiful soul – Otelindo. Recognizing the need for intervention, Ze Luis's foundation sought donations to send Otelindo to Dakar, Senegal, for treatment. However, aware of a more immediate solution, I reached out to my friend, Dr. Venessa Brito, who was planning a medical mission to Cape Verde with a group of doctors.

After sending Dr. Brito details and photos of Otelindo's condition on a Monday, she responded within minutes. A surgeon from California, part of their mission, expressed a keen interest in meeting Otelindo the following Tuesday. Following their meeting, they swiftly scheduled surgery for Wednesday, altering the course of Otelindo's life.

Today, Otelindo exudes happiness, although the shadows of his past still make him a bit shy. We maintain contact, and our ongoing efforts focus on aiding him in supporting his family by providing farm animals for a sustainable source of income. It's a story that transformed from one of misery to a narrative of resilience, compassion, and shared joy.