RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A 2-year-old Brazilian boy was recovering nicely Sunday and receiving support from across the country after surgery to remove sewing needles his stepfather confessed to pushing into him, a hospital official said.
The child faces additional surgery to remove more of the dozens of needles that remain in his body, said Suzy Moreno, a spokesman for Hospital Ana Nery in the northeastern city of Salvador.
Police said the boy’s stepfather, 30-year-old Roberto Carlos Magalhaes, has confessed to pushing the needles into the boy at the behest of his lover, Angelina Ribeiro dos Santos, in an odd ritual she said would keep the couple together. However, police said she was really seeking revenge on Magalhaes’ wife by having him hurt her son.
Surgeons removed four of the needles - those considered most life-threatening - from one of the boy’s lungs and near his heart during a nearly five-hour operation Friday. The needles were up to 2 inches long, Moreno said.
Needles will be removed from his abdomen and spine in forthcoming surgeries.
Magalhaes and dos Santos were both arrested, though no charges had been filed as of Sunday.
Front Section, Pages 4 on 12/21/2009