From then on, he started to survive on “jobs”.
The list of lost documents included identity cards, work cards and even a birth certificate. “In recent years, we obtained letters from the Public Defender’s Office to deliver to the registry offices. But, due to alcoholism, he was unable to go to these places. That’s why it took so long,” said firefighter Lucas Nunes dos Santos, 27, son of Erika and Paulo’s great-nephew.
In 2023, Paulo began receiving a monthly minimum wage from the federal government, a benefit granted to poor elderly people. The benefit was only obtained after he was able to obtain a new identity card. Thanks to him, Paulo was able to apply for a bank loan a month before he died, said Ana Carla de Souza, the family’s lawyer.
For as long as I can remember, Uncle Paulo no longer worked with a formal contract because he had lost documents. He did some odd jobs or other, but he didn’t have a steady job. He had a problem with alcohol, but he had many friends.
Lucas Nunes dos Santos, son of Erika and great-nephew of Paulo
Health problems. Paulo lost his spleen and had malaria before his health condition worsened, which worsened last year, when he had to undergo hospital admissions. He had “unspecified pneumonia” dependent on oxygen and was hospitalized from April 8 to 15 at the Bangu UPA, according to the medical record. He ended up dying the day after being discharged from the hospital.
According to the family, it was Erika who took care of Paulo when his health condition worsened. “When he was hospitalized, the only person who visited him was my mother. She visited him every day he was hospitalized,” said Lucas.
