Roots Run Deep for Brazilian-American Family

Hickey Family

Roots Run Deep for BrazilianAmerican Family

By Patricia Hudson

Damon and Daniele Hickey first met in the early 2000s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while working for an oil and gas company. Dani was an in-house attorney in the legal department in the Brazil main office and Damon worked in the Robotics group, an expat from the US office on rotation in Brazil, training local employees offshore.

From Friendship to Romance

Damon and Dani became friends. “I was helping him with some work-related visa issues. Damon was funny and easygoing. One day, he put a yellow sticky note on my computer screen that said ‘Tu es linda,’ in his best Spanish, to call my attention and flirt with me. We finally went out for a drink and to get to know each other better. We dated about a year and half and one day, at a friend’s wedding reception, he proposed to me on one knee, in front of my family and closest friends. We got engaged that day. Right after 9/11, we moved to the US to get married. It was a tense time in the US and I was very concerned about moving here; I never envisioned marrying a foreigner, leaving my hometown of Rio, my sister, my parents and my extended family.” Work opportunities moved the Hickeys stateside to Corpus Christi, then back to Rio. When Damon was diagnosed with brain cancer, they considered moving back to the US. The triplets were born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The couple purchased a house in Bridgeland in 2009. “Due to work, it sat empty until we relocated to Cypress in 2012. Damon continued medical treatment at the Texas Medical Center; the kids started kindergarten at Pope Elementary,” recalls Daniele. Daniele works for a medical device company in the Legal and Ethics Department, and is responsible for education, training and communication for the US, Latin America and Canada. Damon is an independent consultant in oil, gas, and construction fields and works on a contract basis.

Brain Cancer and FIV

“When Damon was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2007, the neuro-oncologist asked if we wanted children because Damon would likely become sterile with chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. We decided on FIV, fertilization in vitro. In one try, I was pregnant with triplets! I never thought in my wildest dreams I would have multiples,” exclaims Daniele. “In Brazil, it is common to hire help to assist in raising your children. We had several nannies that lived with us on a rotation, as both of us worked full time. Damon lived in Macae, a small beach town three hours from Rio; he only came back home to Copacabana on Fridays and left every Monday morning. Damon is a brain cancer survivor,15 years strong, this October.”

A Family Affair

“Nicholas, Nicole and Nathan were born at 32 weeks, one minute apart, in Rio. The triplets stayed in the NICU for 37 days; they were very small and needed to gain weight. We stayed in Brazil until they were old enough to start school in the US. My parents moved to a unit in our condo and helped a lot! My mom loaned her housekeeper to me; she was responsible for all the nannies in my house while I was working. I was hoping to bring a nanny to help us transition stateside, but because of local labor laws, I was forced to hire someone locally. The issue? The kids only spoke Brazilian Portuguese and no English. We decided to put them in day care to learn English and adapt. It was tough time. My parents, Leila and Alberto, continue to help out; they retired early and moved down the street from us, in Bridgeland.”

Nicole, Nathan and Nicholas

“The triplets will turn 14 in August. Nicole is an 8th grader at Smith Middle School. She is a Girl Scout, working towards her Silver Award. A member of the National Charity League Cypress Belles Chapter, she completed over 100 hours of service her first year. She does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and takes

Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson

private art classes. Nicole also does photography modeling, poses for teen boutiques and works as a teen model in photography workshops. Nicole and Nathan participate in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, a civilian youth program with the U.S. Air Force. As CAP cadets, they are able to fly a plane, learn to lead, hike, camp, and get in shape through PT. They have earned the rank of Sergeant and have received the Wright Brothers Award. Nathan is an 8th grader at Smith Middle School. As a Boys Scout, he is working towards his Eagle Scout Project for Pope Elementary. Elected by his peers, he received the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow, awarded to those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law. Nathan plays violin in the Smith Middle School Orchestra, and takes private lessons for violin and piano. (During the pandemic, he taught himself to play piano). Nathan is a member of the Columbian Squires Knights of Columbus at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. Nicholas is on the Autism Spectrum. He was diagnosed at two. He is non-verbal, but very smart and organized. He goes to a private school, specializing in autism and does speech therapy,

ABA and horse therapy. Nicholas loves sports and participates in adaptive sports through the YMCA and other organizations. Because Nicholas is on the spectrum, he requires a lot more attention than his siblings. Damon has two adult children, Shane lives in Cypress and has two babies, 6month-old Asher and 13-year-old Alanna. Amanda lives in Corpus Christi.”

Finding Their Bliss

“I’m a social butterfly,” admits Daniele. “I love meeting my friends for lunch and happy hour. My favorite pastime is hosting a typical Brazilian Barbecue, The family with Daniele’s parents, sister and nephew with lots of Picanha, (flank steak seasoned with sea salt), and capirinhas, (brazilian drink similar to a Margarita). I love using my fancy silver trays, tableware, and decorating the house with flowers. I organize monthly get-togethers with my friends so I can speak Portuguese and reconnect. Damon is not as outgoing as I am and he prefers to exercise. Damon likes to ride his bike in the trails. We put a gym in our house during the pandemic; he hits the treadmill, the bike and lifts weights. Damon loves old cars and likes to spend time with Nathan and Nicholas visiting car shows and shooting at the gun range.”

Brazilian Roots and Family

“As a Brazilian-American family, roots are very important to us. I keep our heritage alive by teaching the kids Portuguese and Spanish. I’m trilingual and want them to succeed in their career choices by speaking other languages. I teach the kids to be humble and kind, and to be themselves. I tell them daily to live each day as it comes and cherish it as we do not know what the future will hold. We participate in Run for the Rose every year to raise funds for brain cancer research and awareness. We alternately attend masses at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and St. John the Neumann masses in Brazilian Portuguese. We enjoy the beach and the sun; we go to Florida every summer to enjoy some clear water at the beach. Every other year, we go back home to Rio de Janeiro. My sister Marcele and nephew Noah have moved to Bridgeland. Our parents attend every kids’ function they can, and help us to raise our children. We are a big, happy, loud family! Like you see in the movies, we hug and kiss everyone, and that is a Brazilian habit that I will never let go; ask all my American friends! Nothing is better than spending time with the ones you care about, accompanied by a cafezinho, (little coffee), sweets and pastries.”

Nathan and Nicole In their CAP uniforms with Nicholas

If you know of an exceptional Greater Fairfield, Towne Lake, Bridgeland/Blackhorse Ranch, Coles Crossing, or Cypress Creek Lakes individual or family that needs to be featured in an upcoming issue of PinPointe Magazine, please contact me: texasteacher024@outlook.com.