Michelle Bolsonaro, the former first lady of Brazil, shared with reporters that she witnessed her husband, Jair Bolsonaro, “asking God to take him away because he can’t take the pain anymore” during a recent medical checkup. This occurred after he suffered a head injury from a fall.
Jair Bolsonaro, 70, fell and hit his head while in his cell at the Federal Police Regional Supervision Office in Brasilia, where he is serving a 27-year and three-month sentence for “crimes against democracy.”
The incident happened shortly after the former president underwent four surgical procedures late in 2025 due to complications from a failed assassination attempt in 2018. These ongoing health issues have led to multiple surgeries over recent years, culminating in his discharge from Brasilia’s DF Star Hospital on January 1, 2026.
Initially, Judge Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court turned down a request for Bolsonaro to temporarily return to the hospital for evaluation after his fall. However, after further pressure from his legal team, Moraes later approved a visit, which included a CT scan, MRI, and an electroencephalogram. Bolsonaro returned to his cell on Wednesday.
During his hospitalization, Bolsonaro’s medical team explained that the accident likely occurred when he got out of bed and attempted to walk. They confirmed he sustained a minor head injury, but there were no indications of the need for more extensive treatment.
“Imaging tests showed slight densification of the soft tissues in the frontal and right temporal areas due to the trauma, but no further medical intervention is necessary. Clinical treatment should continue as directed by the medical team,” Dr. Claudio Birolini, Bolsonaro’s chief medical officer, reportedly said.
Dr. Caiado, a Brazilian physician, indicated to reporters that Bolsonaro’s fall might have resulted from confusion stemming from interactions between various medications he takes.
“We initially suspected it might be due to a drug interaction, which we had already considered. The president takes multiple medications for hiccups. If those symptoms flare up again, it could pose a greater risk,” Caiado explained.
While in the hospital, Michelle Bolsonaro recounted that it was difficult to determine when exactly the fall happened, as Jair was “confused and had difficulty communicating” during their meeting. His symptoms were likely aggravated by medications causing drowsiness.
Michelle mentioned that her husband could not recall if he fell in the early morning or at night. She noted that there is a step between the bedroom and bathroom in his cell, which may have played a role in the incident.
“I saw him unable to bear the pain any longer, asking God to take him away,” she told reporters outside the hospital while Jair underwent his check-up on Wednesday.
According to Michelle, Jair has been living with constant pain since his emergency surgery after the assassination attempt in 2018, adding that he has more or less “switched to survival mode.” She elaborated that he is learning “how to deal with pain in order to stay alive.”
She emphasized that Jair “avoids asking for help and doesn’t want to trouble anyone,” which she believes may have delayed assistance after his fall. Typically, his cell is opened at 8 a.m. for his first dose of medication, but he didn’t receive treatment until about 40 minutes later.
“At home, I’m always next to him. When he stands, I’m right there, because I’m worried he might fall,” she said, explaining that he has undergone nine surgeries since 2018, along with pre-existing complications and dizziness.
