Mascots of Remo, Paysandu, and Tuna Bring Hope and Joy to Children Undergoing Treatment at Santa Casa
The action aimed to raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation in the State
The State Transplant Center (CET), part of the Pará State Department of Public Health (Sespa), held a special event on Friday (26) in honor of Green September, a national awareness campaign about the importance of organ and tissue donation. The mascots of the three main football clubs in Pará: Remo, Paysandu, and Tuna, visited patients undergoing treatment at Santa Casa de Misericórdia, bringing joy, hope, and a message of solidarity.
With great enthusiasm, the characters toured areas such as the pediatric outpatient clinic, the pediatric hemodialysis unit, the Menino Jesus Ward, and the Acolher Space, which receives children and adolescents who are victims of scalping. In each environment, in addition to fun, there was also guidance for families on how to become organ donors.
In the hemodialysis unit, children undergoing treatment received special attention. Occupational therapist Fernanda Lobato explained that the space serves patients in advanced stages of chronic kidney disease. "Children undergo hemodialysis three times a week, in four-hour sessions, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team. While they are in treatment, we offer therapeutic, educational, and playful activities so that they continue to develop fully. Most are already registered for kidney transplants because our goal is for hemodialysis to be just a transitional phase until the transplant, which ensures a better quality of life," she emphasized.
The Green September campaign, according to Fernanda, reinforces the hope of these patients. "The more donations, the more transplants we will have, and fewer children will need to remain for years on hemodialysis. There are patients here who have been waiting for two or three years, and the transplant represents for them the possibility of returning to family and school routines," she added.
At the Menino Jesus Ward, the visit moved the family of Walace Brito, 8, who received a kidney transplant earlier this month. His mother, Raimunda Pinto, shared her son's journey, who spent almost six years on hemodialysis after his kidneys were removed due to cancer. "On September 3, he received the greatest gift of his life: a kidney. I am very grateful to God, to the donor family, and to the entire team at Santa Casa, who always took care of my son with love. This transplant completely changed his life, and now he can dream of a normal childhood," she said, emotionally.
For the CET coordinator, Alfredo Abud, the partnership with the clubs was essential to broaden the reach of the message. "We are in Green September, a period when we concentrate actions to raise awareness among the population about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Having Remo, Paysandu, and Tuna, popular teams in our State, is essential to mobilize more people and expand the dialogue within families. Donation saves lives, and every 'yes' makes a difference for those waiting in line," he emphasized.
In Pará, by August 2025, there were 193 organ and tissue donations recorded and 309 transplants performed. Currently, about 1,500 people are on the waiting list for a kidney, cornea, or liver.
Anyone can be a potential donor. It is not necessary to leave a declaration in a notary's office or register in official documents – the fundamental thing is to express this desire to the family, as legal authorization depends on them.
The Green September campaign continues with actions throughout the State, aiming to stimulate solidarity and reduce the waiting time for those hoping for a second chance at life.
