On August 2, 1998, at the age of 16, I had a motorcycle accident that left me tetraplegic. After the accident, a period followed in which I was permanently subjected to medical examinations, hospitals, and surgical interventions. I was diagnosed with a spinal cord injury at the C-3, C-4 level, which meant that I would from now on be quadriplegic. The first confrontation with reality was very hard. My family lived with me all those moments of suffering, panic and anguish. It was and is my family that strengthens me to this day, as well as my friends.

As time went by, I wondered how it was possible for a 16-year-old who jet-skied almost every weekend, played rugby, soccer, and horseback riding every day, to be dependent on others for almost every action of daily life. How could I accept being a tetraplegic?

As I realized the reality of my situation of absolute physical dependence, I also began to ask myself: what should I do with my life now? What is my future from now on? What can I do about this situation?

The answers came little by little. I committed myself to physiotherapy, with discipline and motivation. In the beginning I only moved my neck, and now I have some movement in my arms which allows me, for example, to have total autonomy in using a cell phone.

I went on with my studies with great commitment and completed my education, graduating in Marketing.

I understood that I should try to have a life as close as possible to normality. And this is how I managed to find the necessary balance to continue my upward journey.

I created the Associação Salvador, with the mission of promoting the integration of people with motor disabilities in society and improving their quality of life.

The last few years have been extremely important for the Associação Salvador, having established ourselves as a reference institution in Portugal. The coming years will also be decisive for the consolidation of our actions and development of new projects.

It is with a sense of commitment and with great pleasure that I assume an intervening role in the defense of the rights of people with motor disability.