Elvira Rodríguez’s joy at becoming a mother was shattered when tests revealed she carried Chagas disease, a silent infection that can secretly damage the heart for years. Terrified for her unborn child, she endured harsh treatment and brutal side effects, clinging to a single hope: that the parasite would not cross the placenta. When her baby finally tested negative, relief came mixed with anger that she had almost faced this nightmare alone.
In Mexico, Elvira Idalia Hernández Cuevas learned of Chagas only after her 18-year-old son was diagnosed while donating blood. Doctors dismissed it, treatment was confusing, and expertise was scarce. Refusing to accept silence, she founded FINDECHAGAS to demand research, training, and dignity for millions living with the parasite. Their stories expose a cruel truth: Chagas is not rare—just rarely seen, rarely named, and too often ignored until it is tragically late.
