Meet Brenda Freitas, the Paralympic athlete and RBD fan who went blind after a group show

Watching an artist known to fans only through screens live is one of the most incredible experiences any member of a fanbase can have! So much so, that when that moment arrives, some can’t wipe the smile off their faces, while others cry uncontrollably when they see their idol on stage.

But regardless of how emotions manifest themselves, something is certain: the intensity of these feelings will forever mark the history of these people — as happened with Brenda FreitasParalympic athlete and fan of RBD who had his life transformed after going to the band’s first show in Brazil, held on November 8, 2006.

What is Brenda Freitas’ story?

When Brenda was just 11 years old, she secured her ticket to the band’s performance on the “Live in Rio” tour, held at Maracanã, a football stadium located in the neighborhood of the same name in Rio de Janeiro.

There, she was able to sing RBD’s biggest hits and hear her voice and that of the other fans present mix with those of the band members (Anahí, Maite Perroni, Dulce María, Christoper von Uckermann, Christian Chávez It is Alfonso Herrera) in perfect harmony as they sang the band’s biggest hits.

During the show, I was living my world with them. Screaming, crying and singing”, recalled Brenda in an interview broadcast last Sunday, 12th, on the Fantástico program, on Globo (via Splash).

After the presentation, Brenda He returned home with an intense headache. However, it was the day after the show that she discovered that she would face a new challenge, as she woke up seeing absolutely nothing.

When I woke up, I went straight to the kitchen and asked who was there. My mother responded, and I said: ‘Wow, mom. Didn’t you turn on the light? Are you in the dark?’. That’s when I said ‘mom, I don’t see anything’”, explained the athlete.

To the surprise of Brendathe headache she felt was due to contracting an infection in her eyes called ocular herpes with an emotional trigger, a diagnosis she received after 27 days of hospitalization.

Herpes on the retina is rare and, when left untreated, leads to loss of vision. When a person has reduced immunity due to anything, stress or tiredness, the virus manifests itself”, explained retina and pediatric ophthalmology specialist, Mario Motta, in an interview with Fantástico.

Although the discovery was difficult, Brenda, who is now 28 years old, never gave up, as he underwent five surgeries to try to regain his vision. She was unable to have her vision restored, however, she became a Paralympic judo athlete and will represent Brazil at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, next week.

One more show

The RBD show in 2006 became one of the last things Brenda she could see it, but it wasn’t her last contact with the band. She had a new experience with the formation, as she was in the first of the group’s two shows with the “Soy Rebelde Tour” held at the Nilton Santos stadium, in Engenhão, Rio de Janeiro, last week.

The songs and what they conveyed was to never give up on your dreams. This made me overcome a lot of things”, said Brenda while stating that she remains in love with the group after so many years.

More than that, she was able to personally meet the members of RBD, who returned to the stage 15 years after their disbandment. At the meeting, she told her story to Anahi,Dulce Maria, Christopher von Uckermann, Maite Perroni It is Christian Chavez, just as he had the opportunity to touch and hug all of them, as a way of being able to remember that moment. Look!