Introducing Stephenie Rodriguez: A Champion and Changemaker for Malaria
Stephenie Rodriguez contracted cerebral malaria in 2019, and the disease changed her life.
After a long and harrowing recovery, Stephenie became a champion athlete – competing in para-fencing competitions at the highest level across the globe – and an outspoken advocate for partnership to fight malaria.
Stephenie is a Global Fund Changemaker.
Tell us about yourself.
Photo: Stephenie Rodriguez
I am a CEO, a mother, an entrepreneur, a champion para-fencer, a survivor of cerebral malaria and a bilateral bionic amputee.
I contracted cerebral malaria in Nigeria on a business trip in September 2019. One evening I got three mosquito bites on my ankle. I left the next day for home in Australia, and two weeks later I was rushed to a hospital.
Cerebral malaria is a very quick killer – it didn’t take long to spread throughout my body. I was hanging between life and death for two weeks.
I woke up from a coma, completely paralyzed. I would later learn that the doctor had told my family and friends: She has less than five minutes to live. She’s not coming back. Say goodbye.
I survived, but the damage was severe. Recovery took four years – including a year and a half of hospitalization during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and 47 surgical operations. I lost both my feet in 2021 because of the disease.
I now have an intimate understanding of the ravages of malaria and have dedicated myself – my platform and my voice – to eradicating this deadly disease.
What did you know about malaria before your experience?
I thought it was an ailment that affected people in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. I knew it was a mosquito-borne disease, but for the most part, I was unaware that it is one of the greatest threats to human life and a silent, relentless killer.
I have learned that malaria is adaptive and continues to extend its reach as the climate changes.
I have learned that it kills a child every minute, and disproportionately impacts pregnant women.
Step one is understanding the problem and the gravity of the situation for everyone.
There are cases of malaria now in the United States. There are cases in France. We’re one planet – if we’re not on top of this, we’ll have even more casualties because of a preventable disease.
How did you learn about the Global Fund, and why did you decide to get involved?
Photo: Stephenie Rodriguez
My son was with me when I woke up from my coma in 2019. I told him, “I don’t know how I’m going to take care of you. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me.”
He looked at me and said, “Mom, life is 10% what you’re given and 90% what you do with it.” And that was my call to action. I thought, I can beat this parasite. And when I do, I will live my best life – and spend the rest of my days wisely.
That same year, I made a goal for myself – a pledge. I want to impact a billion lives by 2025. I spent four years on the bench, so to speak. The world stopped. So, to finally get on my feet, literally and figuratively, and fight the disease that put me in that coma – that's what I want to do.
The Global Fund does the work with the greatest impact and the largest footprint. The majority of funds raised to fight malaria globally come from the Global Fund.
I want to lend my voice to the Global Fund’s cause and speak alongside people who confront malaria every day.
What does being a changemaker mean to you?
I see myself as a champion, and those who are champions can create change.
My story, my platform, my voice and my athletic abilities can help start conversations, bring focus to an issue and make noise where it’s needed and necessary.
My role is to amplify the Global Fund’s call to action: We must invest in programs that can really make a difference in the fight against malaria.
I hope that, as a survivor, my story will inspire governments, aid agencies, and private partners to support the Global Fund, so that we can end malaria.