When 8-year-old Guilherme caught a common cold, no one could have imagined that he would soon be fighting for his life.
What started as a simple cold quickly spiraled into something much more serious. Suddenly, he was in a coma for 16 days, with no one knowing if he would ever wake up.
But when he finally opened his eyes, he had one special wish that is now melting hearts all over the world.
In 2023, little Guilherme Gandra Moura’s life took a sudden and terrifying turn when a common cold spiraled into severe pneumonia.
The little Brazilian boy was no stranger to hospitals, as he suffers from a rare genetic condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB). This hereditary disease encompasses around 30 different disorders that cause the skin to form blisters at the slightest touch.
EB is an incredibly rare condition, with an incidence of just 8.2 per million live births in the U.S. Those with milder forms may not experience symptoms until they start crawling or walking. For Guilherme, even the smallest touch could cause painful blisters, turning everyday activities into a daily battle requiring immense care.
Feared that she was losing her son
Despite the challenges, Guilherme’s courage and joyful spirit have always shone brightly. His resilience has inspired everyone around him. But as he lay in the hospital, his parents feared the worst. As doctors fought to save him, the young boy was placed in a coma for 16 excruciating days.
”I was very afraid that he wouldn’t come back,” his mother Tayane Granda Orrinco said, according to The Mirror.
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During Guilherme’s fight, his mother never left his side at the hospital. Desperate, she prayed for a miracle. Despite doctors urging her to allow a tracheostomy, an opening in his throat to help him breathe, Tayane clung to her faith, knowing her son would pull through without it.
As days turned to weeks, the unthinkable happened. In a twist of fate, on a day when Tayane finally decided to take a break from the hospital, the phone call she feared yet longed for arrived.
One wish
Guilherme had woken up.
Tayane rushed back to the hospital, hoping she wouldn’t be too late.
”I was desperate,” Tayane shared and added: ”I wanted to teleport myself to the hospital. I came running. I did everything to get here as quickly as possible.”
The first words that came out of Guilherme’s mouth were not about the pain or his long struggle. No, his first wish was a simple, pure one: ”I want to hug my mom.” He had fought for 16 days in a coma, and now, his heart was yearning for the one person who never left him.
The reunion between mother and son was beyond emotional. Tayane was overcome with relief and gratitude, rushing into the room, and there he was — her son, alive, his face lighting up with joy the moment he saw her.
”It was incredible,” she recalled, tears welling up. ”When I entered the room, I just couldn’t believe it.”
The heartwarming video
Even Guilherme’s father, Estevao, couldn’t hold back tears. Watching the bond between his wife and son was too much for him to handle. ”It was very emotional. Even I got emotional while filming. I felt a little envious, but a mother is a mother.”
As the video of their reunion went viral, people around the world were touched not just by the depth of their love, but by the courageous spirit of little Guilherme.
His story also shone a spotlight on epidermolysis bullosa, a rare and devastating condition that requires extraordinary care.
Today, at just eight years old, Guilherme has already undergone eight surgeries and been hospitalized 23 times, but his joyful spirit remains unbroken.
”The first thing I asked was: where’s my mobile phone? Where’s my mum?” he said in a message to his well-wishers. ”Thank you so much. I loved that you prayed for me. God bless you!”
Every moment spent with Guilherme is a gift and Tayane knows this better than anyone — she has witnessed her son fight a battle that few could ever imagine, and each day with him is a blessing beyond words.
Guilherme’s story is one of strength, love, and resilience. His journey continues, but his mother’s belief in miracles never wavers.
