When Débora Dutra Feletti found out she was pregnant with her second daughter, she was stunned. After the birth of her first daughter, doctors told her she wouldn’t be able to have more children. But life had other plans.
Emanuelle Dutra Fernandes, Manu as everyone calls her, arrived fifteen days early, catching the entire family off guard. Her father was at Maracanã Stadium watching a major football match—the classic—and Débora was home alone with her older daughter, who was just 10 at the time. That’s when she felt something wasn’t right. Her daughter thought she was just nervous because of the game, but they walked to a nearby clinic anyway where they told her she was already in labor. The streets were deserted because of the football match, but Débora managed to flag down someone she knew on the street, in the middle of the rain, and got to a hospital in Campo Grande—though all the plans had been made for another hospital much farther away. That rainy day marked the beginning of a journey that would change her life forever.
At home, nothing was ready, boxes still unpacked from a recent move, and the baby arriving 15 days early. Manu was born healthy, and as months passed, Débora noticed small signs that something was different. Manu often sat alone in corners and didn’t notice Débora when she passed beside her. At school, she was always in a corner, avoiding interaction. One day, when an object fell and startled Manu, Débora began more closely observing her reactions to sound to understand why that happened. Then, at age two, Manu had a seizure and went into a coma for nearly a full day. Doctors told Débora that she needed a calmer place to raise her—that’s all they said.
A new place, a new beginning
Without hesitation, Débora made a radical decision. She left her job and everything they knew to move her family to a quieter, more peaceful beach town: Rio das Ostras. In this calmer environment, Manu began to flourish. She found herself running along the beach for hours without getting tired. “She ran as if her body needed it to stay calm,” Débora recalls.
With Manu´s newfound love for running and playing, Débora restructured their new home, creating spaces that fostered Manu’s growth. One room for learning, one for play, and one for quiet reflection. One day, Débora overheard her daughter speaking fluent English to the TV. She couldn’t believe it. No one in her family had taught Manu English, and in school they didn’t even have English classes offered. Upon closer attention, Débora realized that Manu had taught herself English only by watching Disney Channel shows, especially Hannah Montana and High School Musical.
It was custom now for Manu to surprise Débora like this as she has been defying expectations since she was born. With her mother’s love and hands on support, she quickly learned to thrive despite the obstacles in her way.
Finding Special Olympics
As part of her commitment with Manu´s development, Débora got involved in helping start a local APAE in their town. APAE is an institution that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Brazil. It was through this work that Débora discovered Special Olympics. Since Manu had loved running, Débora signed her up to participate in a number of sports and that’s where Manu´s energy found its purpose.
From there, Manu began to stand out—winning medals, traveling to competitions, and even representing Brazil at international events. Special Olympics brought her a world of opportunities. Over the past 11 years, Manu has grown as an athlete, a leader, and an inspiration. For years, Débora saw all of Manu´s accomplishments from the sidelines, but it wasn’t until this past Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, where she was able to travel with Manu, that she realized what an impact she has on others. “The way she engaged with people, the respect and love she received I couldn’t believe it and I was so happy and proud of her”, said Débora.
Today, Manu is an athlete, but she is also a leader, friend, international public speaker and a force to be reckoned with. She speaks English and Spanish as well as Portuguese, gives interviews, and makes friends with everyone she meets from all over the world. She is also part of Special Olympics' International Board of Directors. And through it all, there is one constant: Débora. Her mother, advocate, supporter, and believer.
When asked to summarize her journey as a mother in three words, Débora said: “Knowledge. Overcoming. Determination. I discovered myself. I overcame. I stayed determined.”
And on this Mother’s Day, Manu had some powerful words for her mom as well: “Thank you, Mom, for everything you’ve done. I know some days aren’t easy, but we´ve never let our union end. It's been many years, many things we've been through together, but there are still many more ahead of us. I’ve seen how hard you’ve worked, and you never gave up. I’ve been watching, learning from you, and I want you to know: You are one of the few people in my life I can truly count on…I love you so much.”
To every mother who believes in their child’s potential before the world sees it—your love helps them defy every expectation.
Happy Mother’s Day.
