In 1961, Parks did a series for LIFE on the slums of Brazil and found himself in what he describes as "dead center in the worst poverty I have ever encountered—in the favela of Catacumba, a desolate mountainside outside of Rio de Janeiro." In true Parks fashion, instead of giving a broad view without much depth, he focused on an individual affected by the larger story, just as he had done with Red Jackson, from the Harlem gang series. At just 12, Flavio da Silva was already dying, from tuberculosis. Flavio lived with his parents, brothers and sisters in a one-room shack. The images Parks created while living with the da Silva family illustrated the family's reliance on their dying son. "What Flavio cared most about," says Parks, "was that his younger brothers and sisters were taken care of. It was very noble of him. . . . I definitely learned more from Flavio about character than Flavio learned from me." After the story ran, LIFE readers contributed money to help with Flavio's medical care. Parks says that people sent in roughly $30,000 to bring Flavio to America. "I went back to Brazil and the doctors told me that Flavio would die on my hands if I took him to America.I took him anyway and after living there for two years, he was cured." When Flavio went back home to Brazil, Parks bought Flavio's father a new truck with the money everyone had sent in, and then LIFE donated $25,000 so that Parks could help the family buy a new home. Recently, Parks went back to Brazil to visit Flavio for an upcoming special HBO is doing on the photographer in November 2000. Flavio is now close to 49 years old and has two young sons, a daughter and a grandchild. "Flavio's very gracious," Parks concludes. "He doesn't beg for help or anything. He gave me a beautiful Bible when I went back to see him...he wants me to keep it for the rest of my life, which I will."