By Cary Shuman
In a touching, heartwarming ceremony, the people at Lifetime Brands in Medford honored its long-time information technology specialist Nelson Pereira on a very special occasion.
There were tears in the eyes of fellow employees as the popular 47-year-old Winthrop resident accepted gifts from Division President Scott Bial.
The company was not only recognizing Pereira for his 21 years of outstanding service to the company but the great news that Pereira had undergone a successful life-changing operation that had restored his vision.
A former Winthrop High Class of 1989 standout shot putter coached by Hall of Famer Pat McGee, Nelson was born deaf and his vision began to deteriorate in his teenage years. At the age of 17, Nelson was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome, which affects both hearing and vision, resulting in an eye disorder called retinitis pigmentosa, or RP.
Pereira, son of Oldemiro and Maria Pereira of Winthrop, courageously decided to undergo surgery (one of only four people to have this procedure done) this summer on his cataracts, replacing his lenses. Prior to his surgery, Nelson’s vision was 20/400 in both eyes. Today his vision is 20/40 and is continuing to improve.
Christine Pereira Campos, Nelson’s younger sister, was on hand for the ceremony. She said her brother had some concerns about the surgery and its risks. “For the family, we always put faith in the Lord and we told Nelson, you have to have faith. He was scared going in to it, but the outcome has been phenomenal and it’s given him his life back To be able to actually now see his family, his nieces, his nephews, his friends, and his co-workers, it’s tremendous,†she said.
Christine said her brother loves working at Lifetime Brands. “Nelson is so committed to his work and what he does,†said Campos. “After talking to Danielle McLaughlin (who also works at LifeBrand and lives in Winthrop), I understood how admired Nelson was by his colleagues and what a great company he works for. The effort they put forth for Nelson of Winthrop,” she said.
Christine said she has always been proud of her brother’s accomplishments in sports and in life. She said he’s a great role model for people with disabilities.
“I’m so proud of him. I couldn’t have asked for a better older brother. Nelson is such a great uncle to my children and my brother Steven’s children.â€
Christine said after talking to Danielle McLaughlin of Winthrop, who also works at LifeBrands, she understood how admired her brother was by his colleagues.
“The effort they put forth for Nelson for this day was amazing,†said Campos. “Nelson is a huge sports fan so the Patriots and Celtics tickets were a perfect gift. This was a great day.â€
The ceremony was a well-executed surprise as employee gathered in the showroom for the speeches and presentations.
“We’re here to celebrate you and your recent eye surgery,†McLaughlin told Nelson. “I’m delighted to welcome all of you here today to celebrate Nelson, his amazing story, and him being a great guy. All of the things that Nelson does and enjoys are a true testament to him and how he has pushed through life, never letting anything get in his way.
“As a 21-year veteran of the IT staff, we’re overjoyed and excited for Nelson as he truly sees life in a different way today and on the road ahead.â€
Bial, a former Chelsea High basketball star and senior class president, spoke eloquently as he captured the emotion of the moment and told of Nelson’s strength in overcoming adversity.
“Everybody in Garden City [company headquarters] is just touched by your story, especially Mr. Siegel and his son, Dan,†Bial said.
Bial then read a message from Jeff and Dan Siegel, stating, “On behalf of Lifetime Brands, we are all so touched by your story. As a valued member of the company since 1996, your hard work and contributions have been recognized. Everyone speaks about you and how you have never let any obstacles get in the way of doing your job and living to your life to the fullest. We have now heard of your very successful eye surgery and the return of your vision. We couldn’t be happier for you.â€
Bail then lit up Nelson’s face with a wide smile as he presented two tickets to the Atlanta Falcons-New England Patriots game, “so you can your Super Bowl winning New England Patriots live at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 22 in a Super Bowl rematch against the Atlanta Falcons which should be exciting. Enjoy watching the game and wish you much continued success.â€
Obviously touched by the incredible gesture, Nelson simply said, “Thank you. I’m just speechless.â€
At the luncheon during which he was presented Boston Celtics tickets, Nelson said, “I’m just overwhelmed. I really love everybody that I work with everyday. You guys have been so great to me.â€
Nelson, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Gallaudet University, elaborated on his feelings of joy and the surgery during an interview.
“Today I can look at the mirror and I can see the own color of my eyes, my skin, and my hair. It’s incredible. When I go outside, I could see the burst of sun, the green grass, the clouds, the houses on my street. I can see the beauty of Winthrop, now. I’m looking forward to seeing the new football stadium (Miller Field),†he said.
Asked about his decision to have the groundbreaking surgery that had some risks, he said, “One of the doctors made a good point. She believed the surgery should be successful. She said she wants me to enjoy my life and if I hold my cataracts longer, it will be harder to remove it. So that’s why I made my decision to have the surgery.â€