Brotherly love! Brazilian siblings, ages 76 and 86, are reunited for first time in 15 years after they both fell ill and ended up next to each other in hospital
- José Valentim da Costa and Antônio Valentim da Costa met for the saw each other for first time in 15 years
- The siblings, aged 86 and 76, respectively, were hospitalized at Taperoá General Hospital in Taperoá, Brazil
- Staffers at the medical facility were curious when they noticed that the men shared the same last name and began to investigate
- After talking to their respective family members, the workers discovered that they were indeed related and scheduled the emotional meeting
Two elderly brothers met for the first time in 15 years when – in a twist of fate – they were both hospitalized at the same medical facility in northeastern Brazil at the same time.
The meeting was made possible last Thursday after the staff at Taperoá General Hospital in Paraibá noticed the men shared the same last name.
Antônio Valentim da Costa, 76, was hospitalized at the medical facility to undergo several procedures. His older sibling, José Valentim da Costa, 86, was admitted after undergoing surgery.
Staffers assigned to the hospital’s social assistance department did some research on the two and spoke to relatives before making the shocking discovery that they were indeed related.
Siblings Antônio Valentim da Costa and José Valentim da Costa saw each other for the first time in 15 years last Thursday while they were hospitalized at Taperoá General Hospital in Taperoá, Brazil
The hospital staff noticed that the men shared the same last name and did some research, including speaking to their families, before notifying both parties that the brothers were in the same medical facility
One of the siblings is taken in his hospital bed to a room where his brother was waiting to see him for the first time in 15 years
Video footage of the encounter recorded by the hospital workers showed one of the men being wheeled in his hospital bed to another room where the siblings met for an emotional handshake.
It’s unknown why Antônio and José hadn’t seen one another for so long despite living only about 30 minutes apart.
Antônio Valentim da Costa and José Valentim da Costa exchange a handshake upon seeing each other for the first time in 15 years despite living about 30 minutes apart in the northeastern Brazilian state of Paraibá
According to weekly news magazine Istoé, Antônio, is single, has several children and lives in the municipality of Livramento.
José, a widower, is father to 12 children and lives in Taperoá.
Antônio was transferred to the Campina Grande Trauma Hospital after the meeting with his brother, but said that he would be returning when he got out to spend more time with José.
“Humanization actions are built with a lot of respect, empathy and love, focusing on the needs of users, going beyond mere pathological aspects,” said Débora Cristina Farias, the director at Taperoá General Hospital.
“We promoted this great and moving meeting of the two brothers who had not seen each other for more than 15 years, given the efforts of the assistance team and their families.”