A Brazilian with his head turned upside down promises to return to motivational speech and return positivity to the world after spending an isolated year due to Covid-19.
- Claudio Vieira de Oliveira, 44, suffers from arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a rare disease that affects his joints.
- Her mother was told she wouldn’t live longer than a day, but she has defied the odds
- ‘Claudinho’ lives in the Brazilian state of Bahia and has been a motivational speaker since 2000
A Brazilian with his head turned upside down has promised to speak about motivation again next month after a long year of isolation due to Covid-19.
Claudio Vieira de Oliveira, 44, suffers from a rare disease called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita that affects his joints. He has muscular atrophy in his legs, his arms are glued to his chest and, most surprisingly, his head is completely turned back, supported by his back.
Vieira de Oliveira has not let her disabilities keep her from pursuing her passions and has spent more than two decades working as a motivational speaker. He has also released a DVD and an autobiography.
Claudio Vieira de Oliveira, 44, who lives with his legs atrophied, his arms close to his chest and his head turned on his back. At birth, they only gave him 24 hours to live.
He lives in the small town of Monte Santo in the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. He has been walking on his knees since he was seven years old and his mother taught him to read and write.
Vieira de Oliveira, known to his friends as ‘Claudinho’, was not expected to live more than 24 hours after his birth.
However, she defied the odds and has walked on her knees with specially designed support since she was seven, and her mother taught her to read and write at home.
He lives in the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil, in the small municipality of Monte Santo, which has a population of 49,278 inhabitants.
He hopes to ‘live many years’ and is eager to relive his passions and routine after a long isolated year. Despite his condition, he has no problems seeing, eating, drinking, or breathing.
Throughout the last year ‘Claudinho’ has been ‘twice as careful’ to stay safe and protected from Covid-19
Despite having his head turned upside down, ‘Claudinho’ has no problems seeing, breathing, eating or drinking.
He told the Brazilian news site G1: ‘I have never had difficulties, my life is normal. I am in total quarantine because this Covid is very aggressive, it is lethal, so we are scared.
“I am being more than twice as careful, I have been isolated for more than a year and only leave the house to fix things that only I can do in person, like banking.”
In addition to his motivational speech, ‘Claudinho’ also collaborates with the local Christian educational project Alegra-te that works with vulnerable children.
‘Claudinho’ has not let his disability prevent him from leading a busy and happy life. In the photo above, ‘Claudinho’ and his friends enjoy a day at the beach
‘Claudinho’ also volunteers at the local Christian educational project Alegra-te, which works with vulnerable children.
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought his usually busy life to a halt as he has been isolated at home to stay safe, but he hopes to get back on track in the next month.
‘I miss him so much. I have a speech in the municipality of Bezerra, in the [north-eastern Brazilian] state of Pernamubco, scheduled for April 28. If the pandemic calms down, it will move on. ‘