When Carlos Sanjuan Pastoriza started suffering vision problems and had unexpected seizures back in October 2013, he thought nothing of it.
But when doctors diagnosed the NMUK employee with a brain tumour on his right optic nerve, the news turned the 37-year-old’s life upside down as he endured a painful journey of debilitating operations in an attempt to reduce the tumour’s size.
The trauma of the treatment understandably had a massive impact on Carlos’ life. He explained: “I was tired, depressed and angry. I was on six types of steroids and I upset everyone around me. I was this vicious little monster where everything that was on mind just came out of my mouth. The things I said I wish I could take back.”
But the love and support of his Nissan colleagues during a difficult time for him and his wife Natalie gave him a newfound belief that he would one day return to work. And touched by his optimism and courage, inspired colleagues nominated him to carry the Olympic Torch ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Carlos, who lives in Washington, said: “It’s going to epic. I got a great response from staff and colleagues and how many people can say they have had the chance to do something like this? It is going to be a lasting memory for me and I can’t wait.”
Although the tumour is dormant, the condition has left Carlos partially sighted but he returned to work back in 2014, carrying out a manufacturing staff role and being part of the Kaizen team.
He is now counting down the days to his trip to Brazil where he will carry the Olympic flame for approximately 200 metres through the city of Belo Horizonte – the City of Beautiful Horizons – as part of its 95-day, 36,000km journey that will be seen by an estimated 90 percent of Brazil’s population.
His stint as a torchbearer will be the highlight of an incredible five-day trip that will take in the sights of Rio and Belo Horizonte.
He will be accompanied on the once-in-a-lifetime trip by wife Natalie and heaped praise his colleagues and on how they were there to support him and his family every step of the way.
He said: I’m always a positive man, always optimistic but I lost all my self-confidence.
“But seeing all the lads, they were texting me and everybody got together for a drink, they were telling me how brave I was and that really helped me and pushed my confidence up.”
