Emiliana Rodriguez’s childhood memories are a blend of joy and sorrow, intertwined with the haunting specter of a silent killer lurking in the darkness. Growing up in Bolivia, she vividly remembers evenings spent watching her friends play soccer under the moonlit sky. But one fateful night, the game was abruptly halted by the tragic passing of a player, a victim of the insidious disease known as Chagas.
For Rodriguez, the incident cast a long shadow of fear over the night. In the folklore of her upbringing, Chagas was depicted as a monstrous presence that emerged under the cover of darkness, claiming lives without warning. This narrative became all too real when she learned that her friend had succumbed to this silent and silenced disease, one of the thousands who perish annually from its grasp.
Now, at 42 years old and living in Barcelona for over two decades, Rodriguez still grapples with the specter of Chagas that haunts her past. “The terror would grip me at night”, she confides. “There were times when sleep eluded me, fearing that I might never wake up again.”
Her own confrontation with the disease came to light eight years ago, during her first pregnancy. The revelation of her status as a carrier sent shockwaves through her, evoking memories of her childhood trauma. “I felt paralyzed with fear”, she recalls. “The thought of what might happen to my unborn child kept me awake at night.”
Yet, despite the looming threat, Rodriguez embarked on a journey of treatment to safeguard her child from the same fate. Thanks to medical intervention, her daughter emerged unscathed, spared from the clutches of the silent killer that had haunted her family’s history.
Rodriguez’s story is not unique. Across the globe, individuals like Elvira Idalia Hernández Cuevas of Mexico find themselves thrust into the unfamiliar terrain of Chagas disease. For Idalia, the journey began with a routine act of altruism, donating blood. Little did she know that this act would expose her to a hidden danger lurking within her own community.
“When I first heard the diagnosis, I was terrified”, Idalia recounts. “I had never even heard of Chagas before, let alone imagined that I could be its victim.”
Her experience echoes a broader reality, one where awareness of Chagas remains dangerously low, even in regions where the disease exacts its heaviest toll. Originating in the Americas, Chagas has since spread its reach to other continents, ensnaring millions in its silent grip.
In the face of this silent epidemic, efforts to combat Chagas are hindered by a lack of awareness and resources. Outdated treatments offer little solace to those afflicted, with medications often proving toxic and ineffective, particularly for newborns.
Yet, amidst the darkness, there are glimmers of hope. Champions like Emiliana Rodriguez and Elvira Idalia Hernández Cuevas are raising their voices to break the silence surrounding Chagas. Through advocacy and awareness campaigns, they seek to shine a light on this neglected disease, urging communities to confront the monster lurking in their midst.
As the world grapples with the challenge of eradicating Chagas by 2030, the road ahead remains daunting. But with each voice raised in solidarity, the hope for a future free from the shackles of Chagas grows stronger.
In the battle against this silent killer, knowledge is our most potent weapon. By arming ourselves with awareness and understanding, we can confront Chagas head-on, ensuring that no more lives are claimed by the darkness.
This kitchen is where the big dog is hiding. Can you find it?
This kitchen is where the big dog is hiding. Can you find it?
It’s interesting how optical illusions and other images that mess with your mind can almost change the way you think.
Lots of pictures like this can be found on the web and in old books, but this one is real.
There’s a “invisible” person in this picture, but it’s not a sneaky thief or intruder…
The thing that everyone is looking for is a dog.
This picture is so tricky that even people who are good at seeing optical illusions get it…
The big dog is right in front of you. Can you see it? Look at the picture below!
(Don’t stress if you can’t find it right away. We’ll show you how to do it until you understand…
7 News Perth says that a woman named Christina Suvo was the first person to share the picture.
Christina said she saw a dog in the picture.
But a lot of people were not sure. There don’t seem to be any living things in the picture. But believe me, that’s a dog.
The whole kitchen can be seen here. Now you can see the dog.
Don’t worry if you can’t find him. We also didn’t see it at first.
We’ll solve this optical illusion the way most people do: by cutting the picture up into squares.
Start with the top left square and work your way down.
Have you yet found the dog? He’s in box four, which is a clue.
Click on the picture below to find out exactly where the dog is!
Even though it’s still hard to see him, you can probably make out the difference between his lighter stomach and the black carpet.
In the picture above, the arrows point to the dog’s eyes, ears, and stomach.
Yes, the black dog is still hard to see on the black carpet, but he’s there.
It’s easy to see that his stomach is lighter and the inside of his ears are pink.
You can see the dog better in the picture above if you’re still having trouble. This time, he’s getting extra attention.
Now you should be able to see the dog’s face very well. We love his big eyes and long nose. One of his ears looks like it’s backwards.
The dog is a black Labrador adult. That big of a dog was able to hide in this picture! Labradors usually weigh between 65 and 75 pounds (30 to 35 kilos).
Did the dog show up the first time?
This article is great for people who like optical illusions and clever Where’s Waldo pictures. Please share it on Facebook with your friends and family!
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