Young woman who became quadriplegic five times is surprised with a marriage proposal Physiotherapist Roberta Rodrigues, who has been quadriplegic five times throughout her life as a result of a rare neurological and autoimmune disease, experienced an unforgettable moment after participating in the Rio Marathon. Upon crossing the finish line, she was surprised by a marriage proposal made by her boyfriend, Nicael Macedo. On social media, Roberta shared the emotion of experiencing, at the same time, the realization of a dream and a new chapter in her story. "I was in a wheelchair and couldn't run the Rio Marathon on my own legs. But my boyfriend ran with me in a wheelchair and, in addition to putting a medal around my neck, he put a ring on my finger. I'm engaged", she reported. ✅ Click and follow the g1 GO channel on WhatsApp Born in Santa Fé de Goiás, Roberta told g1 that she had to interrupt her studies, career and personal projects several times because of the illness. Still, he was always able to get back to his routine, walk again, work and even run. Currently, she undergoes continuous treatment with an immunomodulatory medication, applied every six months, to reduce the immune system's attacks on the body itself. On social media, he also shares his journey to inspire other people. In the videos published after the marathon, the physiotherapist highlighted the importance of that moment. "I fulfilled my dream of running the Rio Marathon. I was quadriplegic, in a wheelchair and I thought that would never be possible again," he said. She also got emotional when talking about her partner's support. "God, in his infinite kindness, made me meet a man who, in addition to being a boyfriend, became 'my legs' and brought me to live this dream. As if that wasn't enough, God also made me live another dream", he wrote. The 2026 Rio Marathon was held between the 3rd and 7th of June. Roberta Rodrigues and her fiancé Nicael Macedo Reproduction/Instagram by Roberta Rodrigues Discover Roberta's story An intensive care physiotherapist graduated from the State University of Goiás (UEG), Roberta built a career marked by overcoming. She completed a residency, gained approval in selection processes, worked on the front line during the Covid-19 pandemic and became an advocate for humanization in health care. "Either I was sick or I was chasing my future very quickly. Because time was taken away from me", he reported in an interview with reporter Addan Vieira. READ ALSO: Discover the story of the young woman from Goiás who became quadriplegic five times due to a rare disease Young man who became quadriplegic five times recalls the process: 'Either I was sick or I was chasing my future' VIDEO: Goiana, who became quadriplegic after surgery, is successful on the web by showing resilience The first crisis occurred in 2008, after receiving the yellow fever vaccine. A few hours later, she began to lose movement in her legs and then her arms. Transferred to Goiânia, the young woman was hospitalized and her condition quickly worsened. "I stopped everything until I had my first respiratory arrest and went to the ICU. I was intubated", she recalled. At the time, she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that compromises the nervous system and can even affect the muscles responsible for breathing. As the years passed, new crises emerged. Unlike what occurs in most cases of Guillain-Barré, in which there is recovery after the acute phase, Roberta began to experience recurrent relapses and persistent muscle weakness. The most recent exams indicated the evolution of the diagnosis to Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a chronic form of the disease. Today, she lives with weakness in all four limbs, requires continuous treatment and undergoes intensive rehabilitation. She believes that physical fitness played a fundamental role in all of her recoveries. According to Roberta, all relapses ended with complete recovery of movement, a result that she attributes both to physical conditioning and to the knowledge acquired as a physiotherapist. Today, she continues on preventive treatment to control the disease and values ​​each daily achievement. "I've been worse. I've been completely paralyzed. So, every movement that comes back is a victory," she said. 📱 See other news from the region on g1 Goiás. VIDEOS: latest news from Goiás