Vital is 85 years old and walks slowly among the beachgoers in Olinda.
He carries two Styrofoam boxes filled with puddings that he prepares himself at home. A retired photographer, he suffers from hip problems, headaches, hernias, and kidney issues, and because he does not want to wait for the public healthcare system’s timelines, he decided to sell desserts to pay for his tests himself. A video recorded by Jonatha Felipe on Father’s Day showed him working like this, well dressed, wearing a beret and shirt, and within a few hours it had already been seen by nearly 3 million people.
What followed was an avalanche of transfers from all over Brazil. Vital, who always checked every payment to thank the sender with a prayer, was surprised by the amounts. Now he dreams of taking care of his health and buying a small house, because he currently lives with a relative. And although he could rest, he is already thinking about his next step: “Maybe I’ll set up a fruit stand so I don’t stay idle”.