“We don’t know whether to be happy or sad”, says woman who gave birth after being homeless in RS

In an interview with CNN , housewife Gislaine de Oliveira Carlos reported her state of confusion after the birth of her son, Tyson, days later being rescued and taken to a shelter. She and her partner Pierre Raimundo da Silva, a construction assistant, had to leave their family home, in Porto Alegre, on May 3rd.

Currently, the family is sheltered at the headquarters of an association in the Cavalhada neighborhood, in the south of the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.

“We have a mix of energy. We don't know whether to be happy or sad about the things that happened. I'm trying not to think about it, otherwise it will be such a trauma to think about the things we lost, I'm thinking: 'look how cool all this help is'”, said Gislaine.

The family reports that, after leaving home, they went to the pregnant woman's sister's gym, where they settled on the second floor. The couple reports that, last Saturday (4), a firefighter passed by, warning that the flood was going to reach the place where they were.

“We only took two Tyson bags, just with the maternity clothes, which we had already separated”, recalls the housewife.

The family left the establishment in a kind of human cordon. They explained to the reporter that the women in the group walked through the floods holding hands and the men went ahead. The water level was at people's chest height.

At a certain point, he couldn't stand and the family was rescued by a boat and taken to a point on a highway. “We got rain and wind. I even slept under a tarp. Here (at the shelter) we are calmer”, reported Pierre.

Tyson's arrival

“The stress of the pregnancy was already at its peak, plus the stress of what happened, it was chaotic”, said Gislaine. “On Saturday (4), when we left, I was turning 40 weeks. I repeated to the baby in my belly: 'don't come now, wait a little longer, please'”.

Despite all the difficulties, after being sheltered, Gislaine received full support from volunteers and gave birth to a healthy baby last Tuesday (7). The birth was cesarean.

Back at the shelter, mom and dad are grateful for all the support they have been receiving. “I didn't really believe in the kindness of other people, but after what happened, I'm thinking positive (…) People are helping me a lot to be the man this guy here needs”, concludes Pierre.