Singer Zé Vaqueiro's son died at 11 months old from a rare syndrome

Singer Zé Vaqueiro's third son died in the early hours of Tuesday (9) at 11 months of age. The artist and his wife announced his death on social media. The boy was born with a congenital malformation caused by trisomy 13 syndrome, known as Patau syndrome.

Unshakable Hope and Faith

The couple said that God knows all things, and decided that it was time for Arthur to join them and rest. They thank them from the bottom of their hearts for the love and prayers the baby received while he was with them.

Arthur, who had been in the ICU of a hospital in Fortaleza (CE) since his birth on July 23 last year, went home for the first time on May 16. However, the following day (17), the influencer announced that he had returned to the ICU after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Zé and his family had hope and faith that everything would be okay. 24 hours had passed and the boy had a cardiac arrest. They had to urgently take him to the hospital. He was once again sent straight to the ICU. The singer said he would not lose faith and would continue to fight.

At the end of last month, the boy had to undergo another surgery, a tracheostomy, but according to the influencer, Arthur was fine after the procedure. She praised the boy's strength, which motivated him to have faith.

Tracheostomy, which consists of a frontal opening in the patient's trachea, aims to facilitate the arrival of air to the lungs, aiding in the respiratory process.

_{Zé Vaqueiro announcing his son's death to his fans on his stories (Reproduction/Instagram/@zevaqueiro)}

Journey of Love and Hope

Ingra and the singer also have another son, Daniel Martim, 3, and Nicolly, 13, from a previous relationship. Since Arthur's birth, the couple has shared the boy's progress in the hospital, including the moment he began breathing without the help of machines.

With small celebrations in the ICU, the couple celebrated Arthur's month-old birthday by enchanting the internet during Carnival with a pirate costume. The boy also received a song from his father in March called “I Would Choose You”. In April, Arthur was extubated, a fact celebrated by the couple and their fans.

Before Arthur went home, Ingra attended special courses taught by medical professionals to learn the care needed to care for the boy at home. Zé Vaqueiro expressed his excitement at finally taking Arthur home, saying: “All honor and glory to God. He knows everything and is in control. It is worth being faithful. A new phase begins in the life of my family. Welcome home, my son.”

_{Image on the left Zé Vaqueiro and his wife Ingra, on the right Arthur, the couple's son (Reproduction/Instagram/@zevaqueiro)}

What is Patau Syndrome?

The cause of Patau syndrome is the presence of an additional chromosome 13. Instead of the normal 46 chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomes plus 2 sex chromosomes), the patient usually has 47 chromosomes, presenting a trio, instead of a pair, of chromosome 13. These cases are known as free trisomy.

Patau syndrome, or trisomy 13, is a rare genetic disease that affects 1 in 5,000 newborns. It is an extremely serious condition that leads to several complications. Diagnosis can be made during pregnancy and treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.

In babies with Patau syndrome, partial or mosaic trisomy may result in longer survival. In these cases, it is essential to provide supportive care, ensure maximum comfort, and offer parents genetic counseling and support.

Babies with Patau syndrome often have growth problems in the womb and are born with low birth weight. Most have congenital heart defects and may suffer from microcephaly, among other problems. These babies usually only survive for a few days or weeks.

Featured photo: On the left Zé Vaqueiro and his wife Ingra, on the right Arthur (Reproduction/Instagram/@ingra_)