Lais Souza says she feared dying after denouncing caregiver abuse

Former gymnast Lais Souza, 34, who in 2013 became quadriplegic after a serious skiing accident, revealed on the Café com Mussi podcast that she has already been abused by some caregivers. According to her, because she didn’t have 100% sensitivity in all parts of her body, everything happened without her even noticing.

“There were unexpected abuses, I was totally vulnerable, lying down, sleeping, I wasn’t even seeing what was going on. There are some parts that I feel are all right, but the person takes advantage of that”, he said.

The former gymnast says that at different times during her day she needs to stay on her stomach for some procedures. And that it would be at these times that people would touch her body.

“The majority [dos abusos] it was when I was almost asleep. It has happened to both men and women. With gay man, gay woman. It’s a strange thing, but we have to educate ourselves. Our body is our body, it doesn’t have to be invaded.”

Lais always preferred to live alone to have her independence. Because of this, she says, her safety ends up being more impaired, although her parents are nearby, in the city of Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of São Paulo. The episodes made her suspicious of everyone around her.

“My confidence is really shaken. I would even distrust my own family members nowadays. To trust someone, I really need to know who is there, talking, living together. When a caregiver comes in, we spend a good amount of time training. that everything is in my control”, he says.

After becoming aware of some attitudes against her, Lais decided to report it, but says she feared for her life. “I simply reported it. In some cases, he scared me. I was afraid the person would come after me and kill me. Fear and insecurity”, he said.