Our 8th Annual Letters from Angels campaign is going on NOW!
This has been a tough year for so many - help us spread LIGHT and HOPE to children's hospitals across the country by donating art supplies, toys, books, puzzles, games and other small gifts. We will deliver them in honor of Elysa's 11th birthday and just in time for Valentine's Day! Ideas for gifts can be found here. Please email us at ForElysa@outlook.com for more information about where to drop off or send your donations. And THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!
The fourth annual For Elysa Foundation Gala went VIRTUAL on Saturday, October 3, 2020 and was a huge success!
With your support, we raised over $32,000 to improve the diagnosis and treatment of myocarditis through cutting edge research projects, including:
Complete whole genome sequencing of families like Elysa's that have multiple members diagnosed with myocarditis; this promising research has dramatic implications for diagnosis & treatment (Mayo Clinic)
Identify mitochondrial disease signature of myocarditis for diagnosis, prognosis, and regenerative medicine (Mayo Clinic)
Identify blood-circulating biomarkers for efficient, lower-risk diagnosis of myocarditis (University of Colorado & UCLA)
We are so grateful for your ongoing support! Please follow us on Facebook or Instagram for regular updates on our work.
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
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. To read more, please click here.
