When Thuany Silva, a 32-year-old Brazilian nurse, stepped onto the pandemic frontlines in Rio de Janeiro in April 2020, she never expected her own battle with COVID-19 would redefine her career. After testing positive just a month into her service, Thuany faced a grueling six-month recovery marked by memory gaps, chronic pain, and anxiety. 💔 'It felt like my body and mind were at war,' she recalls.
But Thuany turned her struggle into purpose. Now pursuing a PhD, she’s studying how the pandemic reshaped mental health in Brazil—especially for frontline workers and long-haulers like herself. Her research focuses on bridging gaps in psychological support, combining medical expertise with raw, lived experience. 🧠✨
'Survivors need more than data—they need someone who gets it,' says Thuany, whose work has already sparked conversations about post-pandemic care. Her story reminds us: Sometimes the deepest crises unlock our most meaningful missions. 🌱
