Brazilian driver draws Lito Sousa’s name in the Texas sky in honor

A Brazilian pilot paid tribute to influencer and former aviation mechanic Lito Sousa in the skies of Texas, in the United States, on Monday (24). Aboard a Cessna 150M, Enderson Rafael drew the name “Lito” during a flight near Dallas.

According to data from FlightRadar24, the flight lasted just over three hours and was among the most followed on the platform. On social networks, Rafael shared records of the tribute and said that it took about three hours to complete the drawing, whose extension, according to him, exceeded the area of the city of São Paulo.

The tribute took place after Lito was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare, serious and rapidly progressing neurological disease. The case mobilized followers, who are looking for alternatives for the influencer to have access to experimental treatments.

Lito made his first public appearance after the diagnosis on Sunday (23), in a video published on social networks. In the recording, he asked for help to try to participate in an experimental study developed by researchers at Harvard University.

Followers had already started a mobilization to try to include him in research with ION717, a drug developed by the pharmaceutical company Ionis Pharmaceuticals. According to information released by the family, two studies are considered promising, but are not accepting new participants at the moment.

One of the studies is linked to Harvard University, while the other brings together research centers in France, Germany and England. Mila Seidl, Lito’s wife, said she is in contact with those responsible for the research and is looking for alternatives so that her husband can be included, including through a possible exception to the participation criteria.