What's New? We are celebrating! Our 9th Annual For Elysa Gala on October 11, 2025 in KCMO is an opportunity for us to pause and reflect on the amazing impact your partnership has made over the last 12 years. Join us for a performance painter and small live auction, with the focus being on celebrating all that we've accomplished together, For Elysa. |
The For Elysa FoundationElysa is a sweet, bright and beautiful little girl who was taken from our earth far too soon as a result of viral myocarditis. 
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What is our WHY? Click on our 2-minute video to see how the For Elysa Foundation was started and WHY we are so focused on Education, Light and Research |
Elysa Louise Rojas
Elysa Louise Rojas is a vibrant little girl who was taken from our lives far too soon. Our healthy, engaging toddler had been ill for about 24 hours when she suddenly took a turn for the worse. We called for an ambulance, and with some insistence were transported to the ER then admitted to the pediatric ICU. Less than nine hours into medical intervention, Elysa was given medication to help her rest. As soon as the medication entered her body, her heart essentially stopped. Unknown to her medical team, Elysa’s heart had been attacked by a common virus. We learned from her autopsy that she had died of viral myocarditis.
Healthcare providers had never considered Elysa’s heart to be a cause for her illness and were shocked when her heart suddenly stopped functioning.
Her family was left heartbroken and wondering how this could happen to such a bright and healthy little girl.
This foundation is dedicated to improving Education, providing Light and promoting Research to help physicians and families prevent another tragic death like Elysa’s.
Healthcare providers had never considered Elysa’s heart to be a cause for her illness and were shocked when her heart suddenly stopped functioning.
Her family was left heartbroken and wondering how this could happen to such a bright and healthy little girl.
This foundation is dedicated to improving Education, providing Light and promoting Research to help physicians and families prevent another tragic death like Elysa’s.
The For Elysa Foundation
The 3 basic tenets of our organization are derived from Elysa's initials:
Education: improving education of healthcare providers and the community about Viral Myocarditis and other causes of pediatric sudden cardiac arrest
Light: providing light and hope to other children and families affected by pediatric cardiac conditions
Research: promoting and funding research in the field of Viral Myocarditis and enhancing diagnosis and treatment of myocarditis and related cardiac conditions
Education: improving education of healthcare providers and the community about Viral Myocarditis and other causes of pediatric sudden cardiac arrest
Light: providing light and hope to other children and families affected by pediatric cardiac conditions
Research: promoting and funding research in the field of Viral Myocarditis and enhancing diagnosis and treatment of myocarditis and related cardiac conditions
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German Sferra of the ColoradoRapids.com wrote a beautiful story about our family and mission to help raise awareness of myocarditis and sudden cardiac arrest as well as provide for research and support of individuals and families affected by this condition. Please click the document on the right to download the file.
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