Hello Son,
Today, it’s Grandpa Robert writing to you:
“Hello my little Gabriel,
As I write these words to you, the year 2025 has been over since 2:38 AM in France.
In Brazil, this year 2025, such a difficult year, will end in 1 hour and 22 minutes.
I sincerely hope that 2026 will be full of hope for you, my little man, for Mom and Dad.
During our trip with Grandma Michelle in May 2025 to see you in Fortaleza, we absolutely did not expect what we were going to discover, much less everything you would endure during the four months spent in the hospital’s ICU.
We came to see you every day from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, only one person per day. I often let your grandma take my place.
When I went to see you, I talked to you about life in France, about everything we would do together in a few months or a few years, when you got better: going to the snow to build snowmen, rolling around in the snow, having snowball fights, and also riding bikes, Grandpa loves bikes!
We’ll also go to Disneyland Paris!
I used to sing you songs… that must have made you laugh, because Grandpa sings like a broken pot.
I also made you a promise: to go to Lourdes to light a candle there.
You know, Grandpa doesn’t really believe in religion, but in difficult times, it can help.
I think you are destined for a great future, because your name, Gabriel, means “God’s messenger”.
Maybe you’ll be the Pope of the Catholic Church in a few decades 😉?
Seeing you so tiny in that big bed deeply affected me.
Seeing all those tubes coming out of your little body is something no baby should have to endure.
And hearing the beeping of the machines that kept you alive was truly distressing.
Your Mom and Dad are extraordinary parents.
They fought like lions to get you the best care.
Some hospital doors must remember Dad.
You, too, fought like a little lion.
You surprised everyone with your resilience and especially your will to live.
You are a true warrior.
We returned to France on June 1st, after 26 days spent with you.
We continued to follow your progress and came back from December 15th to 28th to spend Christmas with you, Mom and Dad.
What a joy to finally see you outside the hospital.
When we arrived, you still had your feeding tube, which you had been wearing for several months, as well as the oxygen tube.
During our stay, with Grandma, we came to see you every day.
We took an Uber and tried to speak Portuguese with the driver.
You gave us big smiles. You are adorable, and above all, you are very, very handsome.
We spoke to you in French, you looked at us surprised, then suddenly you gave us a huge smile.
On December 25th, Santa Claus came to visit you. With his beard and bell, you got a little scared and cried. He brought you lots of gifts, including one you particularly love: Zébulon.
We also went to the ocean. Dad let you dip your feet in the water, and you seemed to love it.
You also held sand in your hands.
During our stay, the feeding tube you had for months was removed due to a blockage in the tube.
Now, you eat with a spoon, and sometimes you even take the spoon from the person feeding you, because you must think it’s not going fast enough.
Grandpa went to seven pharmacies to find the same spoon to give you water, because you don’t like it much. Since Dad is from Beaujolais, maybe that explains some things… (just kidding 😄).
This Christmas was simple, but oh so wonderful to be all together.
This moment will remain etched in our memories as a wonderful memory.
There will be many more, and I hope that one day you will come to France for Christmas.
Grandpa will decorate the house with you, with garlands and lots of other decorations.
In nine minutes, you will enter the year 2026.
It’s 4 AM in France and midnight in Brazil.
On the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, Cariocas and tourists are celebrating, far from imagining that children like you or others are fighting to live, while watching the fireworks, just like in Fortaleza.
I hope you won’t be woken up by the noise.
I just received the message “Feliz Ano Novo” from your Mom and Dad.
I’m going to leave you now, my little man.
I love you very much ❤️, sending you lots of kisses 😘 and see you very soon, in Barinnhas, at Mom and Dad’s house.
Grandpa Robert”
